Entering the Promised Land

Content: The book of Joshua covers about thirty years of Israel’s history, emphasizing a five-year period of Joshua’s military campaigns. ¹ The book picks up right where Deuteronomy left off: Israel is camped by the Jordan River on the threshold of entering the Promised Land. Joshua tells the story of Israel’s conquest of the land and of their settlement in it.

God assigned Joshua the task of destroying the Canaanite kingdoms and moving the Israelites into their land. Chapters 7 and 20 indicate that the Israelites were to totally destroy the Canaanites living within the boundaries of the Promised Land. Joshua destroyed thirty-one key cities or kingdoms in all (12:24). After that, each tribe was responsible to enter its designated territory and destroy all the Canaanites left there. Unfortunately, many of the tribes did not or could not root out the Canaanites. This failure would prove to trouble the Israelites for many years to come.

Joshua contains many well-known Bible stories: Rahab’s hiding of the spies, the parting of the Jordan River, the fall of the walls of Jericho, the disobedience and destruction of Achan, and Caleb’s determination.

Authorship: Although there is no stated author of the book, Jewish tradition assigns it to Joshua. It’s clear that he did write some of it at least (24:25-26). The author was obviously an eyewitness of the events described in the book. The date of authorship is about 1390 BC. The conquest probably occurred around 1406 BC.

Title: The Hebrew text bears the superscription Yehoshua. The word “Joshua” means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” The title therefore suitably describes what God used Joshua to do, namely, to save his people by conquering Canaan and partitioning it to Israel as their promised homeland. ² Note that “Jesus” is the Greek form of “Joshua.”

Purpose: to record the conquest of the land of Canaan by Israel and therefore show the faithfulness of God in keeping his promise to bless Abraham’s family line. ³ Part of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:2-3; cf. 15:12-21) includes an unconditional promise that God would give Abraham a specific land and many descendants. The book of Joshua shows that God fulfilled his promises.

Key Characters: Joshua, Caleb, Rahab

Key Words: inheritance, possess

An Outline of Joshua

I. The invasion and conquest of the land (1-12)

A. Entering Canaan (1-5)

B. Conquering Canaan (6-12)

1. Central conquest

2. Southern conquest

3. Northern conquest

II. Dividing the Land (13-24)

A. The distribution of the land to the tribes (13-22)

B. The last messages of Joshua (23-24)

Jenuine Jems from Joshua

I. God keeps His promises

God made the promises of the Abrahamic covenant centuries prior to their fulfillment. Even though so much time had passed, God was working things out to fulfill His promises.

Application: God has made NT believers many promises, one of the most noteworthy being the Second Coming of Christ. Although much time has passed since the promise was made, we can rest assured that God will keep his promises to us. God is faithful and trustworthy.

II. What seems impossible is possible with God.

According to ten of the twelve spies, conquering Canaan was utterly impossible. Yet that is exactly what Israel did. God repeatedly gave the Israelites the power to do what they could never have done by themselves.

[Israel was not exactly a military power. They were former slaves with virtually no military experience. So for them to conquer the land was impossible. ]

Application: We may be called upon to do the seemingly impossible in the service of God. Yet God will provide the necessary strength to accomplish great things in His service. We must be strong and courageous as we serve God (Josh 1:9)

III. God judges sin.

A. God judges sinful nations. God used Israel to destroy the idolatrous and wicked Canaanite civilization. The Canaanites’ measure of sin was now “full,” i.e., ready to be judged (Gen 15:16).

B. God judges sin in the lives of his own people. Achan lusted after some of the spoils of war and took some for himself. His sin caused the death of many soldiers because there was “sin in the camp.” When his sin was discovered, both he and his family were destroyed.

Application: The wicked can still expect the judgment of God. Those who are saved should expect chastisement. Further, your sin affects others. Achan’s whole family suffered the consequences of Achan’s sin.

IV. God is gracious.

Rahab the harlot became a member of the Israelite nation. Although she was a sinful person (a prostitute) living in the midst of a sinful nation, she responded to God in faith. She’s even mentioned in Hebrews 11:31 as one who lived by faith. Interestingly, she became an ancestor of Kind David, and hence, Jesus (Matt 1:5).

Application: God can take the worst sinner and make him into a saint (cf. Titus 3:3-5). No one is beyond the saving grace God offers. E.g., “Unshackled” radio program.

Conclusion:

Joshua tells of Israel’s conquest and settlement in the Promised Land. God is continuing to show his faithfulness to his promise to Abraham to make of his family a great nation in the land of Canaan.

Discussion:

1. Summarize the book of Joshua. The conquest and division of the Promised Land.

2. How was Israel able to conquer the land? Thru God’s help. They were not a great military force by themselves.

3. What are some timeless principles that we learn from Joshua? That God keeps his promises; that all things are possible with God; to be strong and courageous; that God judges sin; that God is gracious

Commitment

Deuteronomy derived its name from two Greek words, deuteros meaning “second,” and nomos meaning “law.” The book is really a record of Moses’ sermons on the Law.¹ The Hebrew name is “these are the words” (Myrbdh hla).

Deuteronomy provides a review of the nation’s history and a renewal of the covenant made between God and the fathers of the nation concerning the Promised Land, Canaan. The key thought of this book could be summed up: “God will bless you if you hear His word, obey it, and love God from the heart.” Moses’ goal in this book was to encourage God’s people to make a fresh commitment to the Lord.² Such a re-commitment to God was necessary for several reasons:

• The generation who had left Egypt were now dead.
• The 2^nd generation needed to hear the Law and make their own commitment to God.
• They were about to enter Canaan and attempt to conquer it. They needed to be unified.
• After conquering the land, they were to become a settled nation and they would face new challenges and temptations.
• Moses was about to pass off the scene, and Joshua was about to take over as leader.

[Who was alive from the 1st generation? Moses, Caleb, and those under 20 years old at Kadesh-Barnea. Why was it important to urge these people to commit themselves to obey God? Their parents had first?hand knowledge of God, but they may not have. Lesson: you cannot live your life on your parent’s faith. You have to have your own relationship with God.]

The book of Deuteronomy is important for a number of reasons. Jesus quotes from it (Matt 4:4), as do many of the OT and NT authors. Deuteronomy “stands as the wellspring of biblical historical revelation. It is a prime source for both OT and NT theology.”³

The structure of the book follows that of vassal treaties typical of the second millennium BC. That is, when a king made an agreement with a subject (or vassal) country, the treaty followed a certain pattern. Deuteronomy follows this pattern loosely.

{A vassal is a subject person or country. The king or ruling kingdom was also referred to as the suzerain, i.e., a nation that controls another nation in international affairs but allows it domestic sovereignty. ⁴}

Key words: keep, observe, remember

Key characters: Moses and Joshua

Date: around 1405 BC, after 38 years of wandering around in the wilderness

Most of the final chapter is written in the 3^rd person. Joshua or some other editor must have added this part after Moses died.

Purposes of Deuteronomy:

ü to explain or expound the Law

ü to encourage the new generation to possess the Promised Land and obey God (4:1-2; 6:3, 17-19, 24-25; 8:1; 10:12-11:32)

ü to prevent judgement and promote the blessing of the nation by the Lord as they enter the Promised Land (6:15-19, 24-25; 7:4, 9-16; 15:4-6, 10)

Outline of the Deuteronomy

Introduction: The Historical Setting (1:1-4)

I. A Review of God’s Mighty Acts (1:5-4:43)

II. Review of the Law, Commands and Warnings (4:44-26:19)

III. Covenant Renewal, Blessings and Cursings (27:1-29:1)

IV. Summary of Covenant Demands: Obedience Yields Blessings (29:2-30:20)

V. Transition from Moses’ Leadership to Joshua (31-34)

Dynamic Direction from Deuteronomy

I. God Desires Genuine Commitment.

Deuteronomy stresses the importance of a genuine love for God (6:4-6; 10:12; 11:13; 30:6). Interestingly, the previous four books of the Pentateuch focus more on external obedience rather than internal attitude. Deuteronomy emphasizes the heart: God’s Word must be in their hearts (5:29; 6:6); discouragement begins in the heart (1:28); and they must love and serve God from the heart (4:29; 10:12).

[This was the means of salvation in the OT—to love God from the heart. One was not saved thru participation in the ritual alone. Those who were saved participated in the ritual, but that’s not what saved them. Most of Israel was not truly saved.]

Application: Outward religion is not acceptable to God. We must have a genuine relationship with Him and serve Him out of a heart of love.

II. God Expects His People to Obey His Word.

Moses repeatedly emphasizes the importance of obeying God’s Word (11:27-28; 13:4; 27:10). The Israelites had been guilty of forgetting His Word, turning to idols, and neglecting the Law. Now, on the threshold of entering the Promised Land, they must return to God’s Word and commit themselves to obey it.

Application: We must obey God’s Word.

III. God is Good.

Moses reminds the people of God’s goodness to them in delivering them from slavery in Egypt, how He had sustained them through the wanderings in the wilderness, and how He is preparing them to enter the Promised Land (cf. 2:7). He urges them not to forget the LORD and the great things He has done for them. Israel had a privileged position with God, and Moses urges the people to serve God faithfully and be holy because of it. ⁵

Application: God has been good to us. He has delivered us from the power and penalty of sin, he sustains us through our lives, and he has promised us a place with him. Because of God’s goodness toward us, we should be grateful and committed to Him.

IV. God Blesses and Provides for His Obedient People

Even though Moses and the men of the exodus will not see the land, Caleb, Joshua and the nation’s next generation will see, enter and inherit the land (1:34-40). God intends to bless his people with the possession of the land (1:6-8a) if they will obey the Law (5:29, 32-33).

Application: Blessing follows those who trust God and obey Him. Obedience yields blessing.

V. God Judges Evil

As Moses recounts the history of the nation, it becomes very evident that God chastened them for their sin and lack of faith. When they should have entered Canaan, they refused to trust God and ended up wandering in the wilderness for nearly 40 years (2:1). Even Moses does not enter the Promised Land because of his disobedience (32:51-52). The Lord does promise to deliver his people from judgment if they turn again to him (repent) and listen to Him (4:29-31).

Application: God has not changed–He still judges evil. Those who sin will experience God’s hand of chastening. Cf. Heb 12:5-7. We should repent when we sin.

+ Obedience results in blessings (28:1-6).

+ Disobedience results in cursings (28:15-19)

One of the clearest themes in the entire book is the idea of blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience (points IV and V above). Chapters 27-30 are largely given over to explaining how God intends to bless the Israelites as they obey Him or how God intends to curse the nation if it disobeys Him (28:1-2f cf. 15f). Unfortunately, the rest of the OT shows how Israel decided to disobey (for the most part).

Note that the nature of the blessings and curses were physical. That is, the Israelites would prosper financially, militarily, and politically if they obeyed God. Likewise, the curses: if they disobeyed, God would strike them with poverty, let other nations overtake them, and disperse them from the land.

Can NT Christians expect the same sort of blessings and cursings? Why or why not?

[No. Remember the nature of this agreement: it was between God and Israel. The same cannot be said of the relationship between God and the church. Israel is not the church. There is, however, a spiritual parallel of sorts. We will be blessed in a spiritual sense as we obey, and we will experience chastisement when we disobey. But we shouldn’t expect political or financial gain to be the result of obeying God (contra health and wealth/prosperity theology).]

Conclusion

Deuteronomy has many lessons for modern believers. The blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience are still in operation today. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, but God chastens those who sin. God displays His goodness and His patience with His people every day. And above all, God is pleased with those who seek after Him with all their hearts.

Discussion

1. Summarize the book of Deuteronomy. Review of the Law, Commands and Warnings, Covenant Renewal, Blessings and Cursings

1. What are some of the primary themes in the book? Obedience, blessings and cursings, God’s goodness and power.

2. Why was it important for Moses to explain the Law and renew the Covenant with the people? Because it was a new generation; because they were on the verge of entering the Promised Land.

3. What are some important applications modern readers can make from Deuteronomy? That God desires genuine, heart-felt commitment; that God expects us to obey his word; that God is good; that God blesses obedience and judges sin.

Instructions for Israel

Like Leviticus, the book of Numbers doesn’t often show up on lists of favorite Bible books. But Numbers, although rather obscure, contains a great deal of information about the history of Israel as well as many practical lessons that we can apply today. [In fact, several well-known Bible stories come out of Numbers. ]

News about Numbers

Name: The book is called “Numbers” because of the many statistics contained in it, such as tribal populations and the totals of priests and Levites. The Greek title in the translation of the OT (LXX) was arithmoi. The Latin Vulgate picked up on the Greek title and named the book Numeri from which the English acquires the name Numbers. The book also recounts two censuses taken in Israel. Interestingly, the Hebrew name for the book is bemidbar (rbdmb), the fifth word of the book, meaning “in the desert of.”

Theme/content: Besides many statistics and lists of things, Numbers contains information about (a) how Israel as a nation was to order itself as it traveled through the desert; (b) how the priests and Levites were to function as they traveled; (c) how they were to prepare themselves to conquer the Promised Land (Canaan). The book covers a 40-year period from the giving of the Law at Sinai to the eve of the conquest of Canaan. The narrative sections demonstrate the successes and failures of the Lord’s people as they conformed or did not conform to the Law. ¹ Numbers continues the account of God’s faithfulness to his promise to Abraham to make his family a great nation. ²

Key word: wandering. Israel wandered in the desert for about 40 years. Do you know why?

{Because of their lack of belief at K-B.

Also remember that Israel was about 2 million people strong. Certain organizational strategies had to be implemented in order to move people efficiently. Israel was arranged by tribes around the Tabernacle, which was at the center of the camp. There was a fixed marching and camping order. Each tribe knew when to leave as the nation broke camp and marched, and where to set up camp when the march ended. ³}

Key chapter: 14 – unbelief at Kadesh-Barnea

Key characters: Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Caleb, Korah, Balaam

An Outline of Numbers

I. The Journey from Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea (1-12)

A. Preparation

B. The journey itself

II. Israel in the Wilderness (13-19)

A. The crises of unbelief at Kadesh-Barnea

B. Laws after the crises

C. The rebellion of Korah and its results

III. The Journey from Kadesh-Barnea to Moab (20-36)

A. Incidents on the way to Moab

B. Incidents with Balaam

C. The census

D. New laws

Purposes of the Book of Numbers:

A. to fill-in the historical period from the Exodus and Sinai revelation to the preparations in Moab to enter the Promised Land

B. to explain that the 38 year period in the wilderness was a consequence for the unbelief of the older generation (Dt 1:35ff)

C. to demonstrate God’s faithfulness and forbearance against the backdrop of Israel’s unfaithfulness, rebellion, apostasy and frustration

D. to narrate the preparation of Israel for entry into the Promise Land by describing the journey from Sinai to the region beyond Jordan, and the legal decisions made in the wilderness ⁴

Implicit Instruction in Numbers:

1. God hates complaining . (11:1?2)

This was not the first instance of Israel complaining about something. They grumbled at the sight of Pharaoh’s army on the banks of the Red Sea, about the bitter water at Mara, and about the lack of food and water in the desert. Such complaining aroused God’s wrath.

Application: God still hates complaining, especially complaining about providential circumstances. See Phil. 2:14-15.

[Why is complaining such a detrimental attitude/action? It evidences a lack of trust in God. It also tends to spread.

When are you most prone to complain? What could you do to prevent a complaining attitude? Try to be thankful, not blame others, say nothing instead of talk, determine if your complaint is valid.]

2. God hates rebellion . (chs. 13-14, 16)

Chapters 13 and 14 tell the story of the reluctance of the people to enter Canaan after the discouraging report of the 10 spies. What was the result of the peoples’ rebellion at this point?

[That whole generation died as they wandered thru the desert for 40 years.

What did these people base their decision on? 13:31 (on sight, appearance, size, circumstance). What should they have based it on? 14:8?9 (God’s promises). ]

Chapter 16 tells the story of Korah, who, motivated by jealousy, challenged Moses’ leadership. In response, Moses stated that this challenge was really rebellion against God, since God Himself had clearly placed Moses in the leadership position (16:11). God judged the rebels by causing the ground to open and swallow them up. Unfortunately, neither of these incidents cured Israel’s inclination toward rebellion and complaint (16:41).

Applications: We can learn much from these incidents in the life of Israel.

We can trust God no matter what the circumstances.

While it seemed that the odds were against Israel, they still should have entered Canaan when God told them to. They should have realized that the God who plagued Egypt and opened the Red Sea could conquer the land for them. In the same way, we shouldn’t be discouraged when circumstances seem to be against us. We should trust that God will make a way for us when we are following Him.

[Caution: They had something we don’t: direct revelation and a prophet telling them exactly/specifically what to do, where to go, when to go, etc.]

Don’t follow others who don’t follow God.

250 leaders of Israel with their families died in the rebellion of Korah. Watch who you follow—you may end up sharing in their same end.

[Can you think of who suffered by following false prophets? E.g., Brand Davidians-David Koresh; Jim Jones.]

It’s a serious thing to call into question or rebel against legitimate spiritual leadership.

Rebelling against God-given authority is a serious sin. If you’ve got a complaint or gripe against legitimate leadership, you’d better handle it in the right way.

[There are proper times to replace the leader: immorality, doctrinal deviation, not meeting the biblical criteria, etc. But even then you should deal with it in the biblically prescribed manner. ]

God always judges rebellion.

Korah and his followers learned first hand the high price of rebellion.

[If you are in rebellion, you can count on being chastised if you are a Christian. Remember what happened to the rebels in this case. You may experience similar results. ]

3. God hates idolatry. 25:1?4, 9

While staying near Moab, the Israelites were influenced to worship false gods. As a result, “the LORD’s anger burned against them.” This was not the first time, nor would it be the last time, Israel worshipped other gods. The Babylonian captivity (586 BC) was largely the result of idolatry.

Application: While a true Christian will never actually worship other gods, he may be guilty of substituting something in place of God, or of giving something else God’s rightful place. Further, believers must be careful who they let influence them. Limit your exposure to false doctrine.

[Remember that most of Israel were not actually believers at this point. Hence, getting them to do the right thing would be like getting a bunch of unsaved people to run the church right. ]

Conclusion

The book of Numbers has plenty of biblical principles that are applicable to modern believers. God hates complaining, rebellion and idolatry.

Discussion:

1. Summarize the contents of Numbers. Israel in the wilderness. They refuse to enter the Promised Land and start their 40 years wandering in the desert.

2. Why is it sometimes unwise to make decisions based on appearances? Doing so does not take God’s power into consideration. God can do the impossible.

3. Why is rebellion against legitimate authority so serious? Because it’s really rebellion against God, since all power comes from God.

4. Why is it so dangerous to allow the influence of false teachers in your life? Besides being a bad influence on you, you could end up suffering the same end as they do.

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Holiness in Worship and Life

When was the last time you read through the book of Leviticus? Have you ever read it? This book is usually not high on the list of favorite Bible books, yet it contains many timeless principles that are applicable to us today.

Learning Leviticus:

Name: The name of the book comes from a Greek word meaning “that which pertains to the Levites.” The Hebrew name for the book comes from the first word, “and he called.” The Latin Vulgate rendered the Greek heading Liber Leviticus (Book of Leviticus) from which the English is derived.

[Who were the Levites? A descendant of the tribe of Levi, the tribe to which Moses and Aaron belonged; generally used as the title of that portion of the tribe which was set apart for the subordinate offices of the sanctuary service (1Ki 8:4; Ezr 2:70) as assistants to the priests. The Levitical order consisted of all the descendants of Levi’s three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; whilst Aaron and his descendants constituted the priestly order. They were the special guardians of the tabernacle. It was their duty to move the tent and carry the parts of the sacred structure from place to place. They were given to Aaron and his sons the priests to wait upon them and do work for them at the sanctuary services. As being wholly consecrated to the service of the Lord, they had no territorial possessions.]

Theme: holiness. Because God is holy, God’s people must be holy and their worship of God must be holy. The basic meaning of holiness is to be set apart and/or dedicated to God. The word “holy” or “holiness” is mentioned about 85 times in the book.

Leviticus goes into great detail about how both people and offerings must be perfect, without blemish. Lack of physical perfection somehow was associated with sin. Those who had diseases were banished from the camp, the place of God’s presence. Further, the offerings (sheep, doves, and cattle) had to be perfect. The spiritual significance of all this is that God requires perfection. Since man cannot be perfect, he must sacrifice a perfect substitute.

Content: Most of the book describes the Levitical sacrificial system centered around the Tabernacle. [Describe the tabernacle.] The Mosaic Law governed nearly every aspect of life in the Theocracy. [Define theocracy.] Leviticus includes laws and regulations for worship, ceremonial cleanness, morality, holy days, the Sabbath year, etc. The book contains God’s directions for Israel maintaining a right relationship with Him.

[I’m glad I don’t live under this system. No church, no shrimp, no cotton/poly blends, etc.

While it had its drawbacks, those who trusted God loved the Law and the system. Also remember that this system was the only proper way to approach/worship God. If one wanted to be right with God, he had to convert to Judaism. E.g., Ruth.

Further, as we compare the regulations of Lev. with what is currently required, we should be reminded of dispensational truth, i.e., that God has changed in His dealings with man over time and in accordance with new revelation.

Time, date, author are the same as the other books of the Pentateuch.]

Purposes of Leviticus:

A. Priests: To remind the priests who officiate before God that He must be treated as holy and honored before all the people (Lev 10:3)

B. Individual: To instruct the individual that he must come before God in worship through cleanness, atonement, and holy living

C. Nation: To remind the nation of their covenant obligations which are necessary for continued occupation of and blessing in God’s land

D. Requirements: To present his redeemed, covenanted people with a collection of religious, civil, social, moral, and economic rules in order that the Holy God may continue to dwell amid an unholy people as He continues His work through them in the world.

E. Reveal: To reveal God in His holiness, righteousness, mercy, and sovereignty

F. Model: To demand that the Israelites live in a way that would show to the neighboring nations the true nature of holiness. ¹

Significance: Leviticus is referred to about 40 times in the NT. Many NT concepts are based on an understanding of the Levitical system. This is especially seen in the book of Hebrews. Leviticus also reveals important information about God’s holiness that had not been revealed up to this point.

An Outline of Leviticus:

I. The five main offerings (1-7)

II. The ordination and work of Aaron and his sons (8-10)

III. Laws of cleanness (11-15)

IV. The Day of Atonement and tabernacle worship (16-17)

V. Moral laws (18-20)

VI. Regulations for priests, offerings and feasts (21-24)

VII. Crimes and punishments (24)

VIII. The Sabbath year, Jubilee, and slavery (25)

IX. Blessings and cursings (26)

X. Vows (27)

Lofty Lessons from Leviticus:

I. Our Worship must be Holy.

A. God is Holy. 11:44, 45; 19:2

Holy means separate, set apart, sacred.

B. God is to be worshipped in a specific way. The sacrificial system maintained the faithful believer’s fellowship with God (4:20, 26, 31, 35). Forgiveness was granted based on the future work of Christ (Heb 9:26).

Some have taught mistakenly that God “covered” sin but did not really forgive sin under the OT system. This is untrue. If offered in true faith and obedience, sacrifice brought actual forgiveness and removal of guilt and punishment for sin. While forgiveness was ultimately based on Christ’s sacrificial death, the OT sacrifice did remove sin and guilt. Sacrifice in that dispensation was the only appointed means of forgiveness and fellowship with God. One could not ignore the ritual and still have a right relationship with God.

Question: Did merely working the system save anyone?

[No, one had to have a heart attitude of faith in God. Many of the rules had more to do with citizenship in the nation of Israel than with faith in God. So one could be a “good Jew” by working the system, yet not have faith in God.]

C. Incorrect worship is unacceptable to God. 22:25b

Many people have the mistaken notion that they can worship God in any way they see fit, as long as they are sincere. Yet the Bible repeatedly teaches that one must approach God in the way that He has specified. Incorrect worship, though sincere and well-meaning, is simply unacceptable. See 1 Sam 15:22.

Application: God must be revered and worshipped. We cannot approach God in any way we want. Our worship should be reverent and obedient, in keeping with God’s character and with biblical guidelines.

[Hence the character of our worship services: reverent, subdued, more intellectual than emotional, focusing on the character of God.]

II. Our lives must be Holy.

A. God’s holiness is the basis for our holiness. 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7-8;

It makes sense that Israel, God’s chosen people, would imitate God’s character. If still makes sense for God’s people to do so. Since God is holy, we should strive to be holy.

B. Holiness is measurable: conformity to the standard. The focus of Leviticus is an external obedience to the regulations. Obedience equals holiness. There is an external dimension to holiness. Notice the regulations in chapters 19?20. See also 1 John 2:3-6.

[There is little mention of being sorrowful for sin, of guilty feelings, of heart attitudes. This obviously doesn’t negate the importance of heart attitude. I point this out because of the modern emphasis on heart/feelings over strict obedience. People think that as long as their motivations are pure, they can do what they want. This is false. God is concerned about heart attitudes, but He is also concerned about external obedience to His commandments.

There is a danger in equating obedience to the letter of the law with salvation or spirituality. But I think the danger of laxity/apathy is equally as great.]

Application: 1 Pet. 1:15?16. There are two aspects of holiness: separation from sin and dedication to God. Both of these should be evident in the Christian’s life.

Conclusion

While the regulations in Leviticus, as part of the Law, no longer apply directly to NT believers, there are important principles that we can learn from the book. God is holy; therefore, believers must be holy. They must worship God in the correct manner and their lives should be holy.

Discussion:

1. Briefly summarize the contents of Leviticus. Laws and regulations for Israel to maintain a positive relationship with God.

2. Why do we insist on a worship style that is reverent and serious? Because our worship should reflect God’s holy character.

3. What are the two aspects of holiness? Separation from sin and dedication to God.

4. Is holiness simply keeping the rules? No, one’s heart attitude needs to be right as well. One must be dedicated to God, i.e., have a desire to maintain a right relationship with God.

What are the primary lessons of Leviticus for Christians? That God is holy, that our worship of God must be holy, and that that we must live holy lives.

EXODUS–THE DELIVERANCE AND INSTRUCTION OF THE NATION

Exodus is the story of the exodus of the nation of Israel from Egypt, and their subsequent reception of the Law in the wilderness. The word “exodus” is from a Greek word meaning “exit.” Exodus picks up the story of God’s providential care of His people after a silent period of 275 years.

At the conclusion of Genesis, Israel’s population was about 75 . During the 275 silent years, Israel grew to about 2.5 million people and became enslaved to the Egyptians. Israel lived in Egypt for about 430 years.

The Law was Israel’s constitution. Prior to this point, Israel was a people, but not an organized nation. With the giving of the Law, the people became a nation, organized with a legal system, rulers, procedures, policies, and a systematized religion.

Exodus is an important book for a number of reasons. It records much of the early days of Israel’s history and the origins of Jewish religious practices. Further, nearly every OT book makes reference to the material contained in Exodus, as do many NT books.

[Again we see the interrelatedness of Scripture–if one part falls, so does all the rest.]

An Outline of Exodus:

I. The Exodus from Egypt and Traveling to Mt. Sinai (ch. 1-18)

A. Israel is enslaved. (1:8-14)

B. Moses is born and called. (ch. 2-4)

C. The nation is delivered from Egypt. (ch. 5-18)

1. God plagues Egypt.

2. God passes over Israel.

3. God leads the nation out of Egypt.

II. The Giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai (ch. 19-24)

A. The 10 Commandments (moral law)

B. Social and civil laws

C. Religious laws

III. The Tabernacle (ch. 25-40)

A. Its design

B. Its delay

C. Its completion

Important Facts about Exodus:

¨ Hebrew title: “These are the names,” which is the first phrase of the book. In the Greek (LXX) the book is named Exodus, emphasizing the departure (or exit) of Israel from Egypt.

¨ Author: Moses. Duet 31:9 “Moses wrote down this Law.” C.f. also 1 Kings 2:3, Neh 8:1. Jesus called Exodus “the book of Moses” (Mark 7:10, 12:26).

¨ Date of the exodus: about 1445 BC. Both biblical and secular evidence support this date.

¨ Date of the writing of Exodus: probably while in the wilderness, around 1425 BC (Moses died in 1406).

¨ Key word: Redeem. God promised to redeem His people from bondage under Egypt (6:6). God also stipulated that every first-born child be redeemed with the sacrifice of an animal (13:13, 15).

¨ Key chapters: 12 – the exodus out of Egypt; 20 – the 10 Commandments

¨ Key characters: Pharaoh, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Caleb

¨ Interpretive Difficulties: The date and route of the Exodus have been the subject of considerable debate. Sorting out the chronology, the places named, and the characters involved (especially the Egyptian pharaohs) has been very difficult.

Exciting Ideas from Exodus:

1. God is sovereign. God is clearly controlling the events played out in the pages of Exodus. Israel stayed in Egypt for as long as God wanted them there. The plagues of Egypt especially display God’s power over nature and over mankind. Everything is following God’s eternal plan. Read, e.g., Ex 6:6.

Modern Applications: God is still sovereign. He’s in control of all things, and everything is following His divine plan. We may not understand why things happen, but we can trust that God is in control and working all things according to His will (Eph 1:11).

2. God is faithful to His promises. He will redeem His people. God had promised to give Canaan to Abraham. After over 400 years, and when Abraham’s family had become a great nation, Israel was ready to enter the Promised Land. God is fulfilling His promise to Abraham to make his family into a great nation.

Modern Applications: We can trust God to come thru on His promises. E.g., 2^nd coming of Christ; rewards for the righteous/judgment for the wicked; trusting God to take care of you; trusting that God knows best and His word is true.

Interesting note: 4x in Exodus 7-8 we see the phrase “as the LORD had said.”

Also, God’s redemption of Israel from Egypt is an illustration of the believer’s redemption from sin. God will redeem those who trust in Him.

3. God has given us a standard to live by. The standard that controlled nearly every aspect of Jewish life was the Law of Moses. The 10 Commandments (Ex 20) summarize God’s requirements for man.

Modern Applications: While we are not under the Mosaic Law, we still have a standard to follow–the Bible. There are many principles from the OT that still apply to us.

4. God has a particular place and plan for His people to worship Him. God designed the temple and gave detailed directions for the correct way to approach and worship Him. Read Ex 25:8-9.

Modern Applications: We must be very careful how we worship God. We must make sure our worship practices are biblical and appropriate. Some of the ways that people try to worship God today are inappropriate. Many think that as long as you are sincere, you can approach God any way you want. Not true.

The Westminster Confession (Chapter XXI) says: The acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.

5. God hates complaining. The Israelites were repeatedly guilty of murmuring against the Lord (15:24; 16:2, 7, 8). They complained about the quality of food, the lack of water, and about Moses’ leadership.

Modern Application: Don’t complain or whine. These people were impatient and dissatisfied with God’s treatment of them (read 16:8). Don’t be guilty of the same offense.

Conclusion:

At the beginning of Exodus, we find the Jews oppressed under their Egyptian taskmasters. By the end of the book, Israel has left Egypt, is heading toward the Promised Land under the leadership of Moses, and is organized as a nation with a governing constitution. Throughout the book we clearly see God’s sovereign hand of guidance and protection for His chosen people. Thus God fulfills his promises to Abraham.

Discussion:

1. Summarize the contents of Exodus. Moses and the exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Sinai, the pattern for the Tabernacle and for worship.

2. In what chapter of Exodus do we find the 10 Commandment? Chapter 20.

3. What does the detailed description of the Tabernacle tell us about how we are to worship God? It shows that God desires for us to worship Him in a certain way. We must insure that we follow the Bible in or worship practices.

4. How do we know that we no longer have to follow the directions for worship as given in Exodus? NT tells us so. Christ came to redeem us from the curse of the Law (Gal 3:13). Paul states plainly that we are no longer under the Law (Rom 6:14; Gal 5:18).

Genesis is a book about origins. It gives the account of the origins of mankind and his world, of the origin of sin and its curse, and the beginnings of God’s plan to redeem man through His chosen people, Israel.

Genesis is not merely history. It is not intended to be a chronicle of events, a history for history’s sake, or even a complete biography of the nation. It is a theological interpretation of selected records of the ancestors of Israel. Genesis explains the causes behind the results. The book records God-planned and God-directed history. ¹

Genesis describes FOUR MAJOR EVENTS:

1. creation 2. The fall of man

3. the flood 4. The Tower of Babel

Genesis describes FOUR IMPORTANT PEOPLE:

1. Abraham 2. Isaac

3. Jacob 4. Joseph

Note: Genesis records the history of actual people. It is not religious myth or legend.

[Why would some people suppose/believe that Genesis is a myth or legend? Because much modern science/philosophy disagree with it. We have to determine if we are going to believe what people say or what God says.]

Why is the book of Genesis so important?

1. It describes the origin of man. Cf. Gen 1:27

The fact that God created man gives him a purpose and meaning for life. Man’s ultimate purpose is to honor and obey God. Evolution is random and meaningless. Attempts to integrate the biblical record with evolution are bound to fail because the two systems are basically contradictory.

[What are some ways that the Genesis account and evolutionary theory are contradictory? The existence of God; the age of the earth; the origin of species; the purpose/meaning of life. These are basic, essential contradictions.]

It’s important that we retain a commitment to Genesis as an accurate account of what really happened. Genesis doesn’t record events in scientific terms, but it is an accurate account. If it’s not true, the Bible is not trustworthy.

2. Jesus believed that Genesis was true. Cf. Matt 24:37; John 8:58

[What if Jesus was wrong? He’s no savior. Maybe he was just accommodating the ignorance of the people who surrounded him. Again, this calls into question his claim to be the savior and the Son of God.]

3. Other books draw on the contents of Genesis. Cf. Matt 1:2f

Genesis is quoted about 60 times in the NT in 17 different books. The other biblical writers act as if Genesis was actually, literally true. If Genesis is wrong, then the other writers were either ignorant or wrong, and in any case not to be trusted. The whole Bible stands or falls with Genesis. The book is foundational to all that follows it.

The Theme of Genesis

Genesis gives Israel the theological and historical basis for her existence as God’s Chosen People. ² The theme of Genesis is God’s providential care for His people. He created and sustained Adam, chose Abraham to be the patriarch of His people, and cared for this family from one generation to the next.

Genesis not only means ‘be­ginning’, but it is the book of beginnings. The book of Genesis gives us our historical point of reference, from which all subsequent revela­tion proceeds. In the book of Genesis all the major themes of the Bible have their origin. It is a book of many beginnings: in it we see the beginning of the universe, of man and woman, of human sin and the fall of the race, the begin­ning of God’s promises of salvation, and the beginning of the nation Israel as the chosen people of God because of God’s special purpose for them as the channel for the Messiah. In Genesis we learn about Adam and Eve, about Satan the tempter, about Noah, the flood, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph and his brothers. But here we also have the beginning of marriage, family, work, sin, murder, capitol punishment, sacrifice, races, languages, civilization and the Sabbath. The Bible is, through and through, a historical revelation. It is the account of God’s activity in history. ³

An Outline of Genesis:

1. God’s providential care of mankind in general (1-11)

a. The Creation (1-2)

b. The Fall of Man (3-5)

c. The Flood (6-9)

d. The Nations (10-11)

2. God’s providential care for the Nation of Israel (15-50)

a. Abraham (12-23)

b. Isaac (24-26)

c. Jacob (27-36)

d. Joseph (37-50)

Other Important Facts from Genesis:

1. The name Genesis is taken from the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament. “Genesis” is from a Greek word meaning “beginning” or “origin.”

2. Key words:

ü Beginning. The Hebrew title is “in the beginning.”

ü Generations or account. A key word or phrase is “these are the generations of” or “this is the account of.” It is used some eleven times to introduce the reader to the next section which gives the narrative about what happened in connection with the key events and persons of the book from the creation of the heavens and the earth to all the patriarchs of Israel.

3. Key chapter: 12 – the Abrahamic covenant. God’s agreement with Abraham and God’s dealings with Abraham’s family are the central emphasis of the book.

[By way of contrast, creation takes up only 2 chapters, and man’s early history prior to Abe takes up only 9 more chapters. The other 39 chapters deal with Abe and his family.]

4. Key passage: 12:1-3, the Abrahamic Covenant.

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

God promised to bless Abraham personally, to bless his descendants, and to bless the entire world through Abraham’s family. This covenant was eternal and unconditional. The rest of Genesis (and the rest of the Bible) shows how God did exactly what He promised to do.

5. Author: Moses. Both Scripture and tradition attribute the Pentateuch to Moses.

[Briefly explain the documentary hypothesis--JEDP]

6. Time of writing: most likely after the Exodus and before Israel entered the promised land, probably during the forty years in the wilderness, around 1425 BC

Genesis is a highly organized, structured book. After the prologues, Genesis is divided into ten parts marked out by the formula: “This is the genealogy [or history] of ….” This heading is followed by a genealogy of the person named or by stories involving his notable descendants. ⁴

Genuine Gems from Genesis

1. There is only one God, the creator and sustainer of all things.

• Beginning with the opening lines of the book, the reader is faced with the Creator God, the One who made all things from nothing with the power of His will. This is the only one and true God. The first line of the book overturns all false views of God (e.g., atheism, polytheism, pantheism).
• The world and the universe are dependent upon God. He created them and sustains them. They exist for God’s pleasure and are under His control. God rules over all creation.
• God has revealed Himself in word and deed to man. His particular dealings are with the Jews. Genesis gives Israel the theological and historical basis for her existence as God’s chosen people.

2. God desires to enter into a relationship of loving sovereignty with people.

• The majority of Genesis deals with a single family, that of Abraham and Sarah. The book records how God chose Abram and cared from his family. It is through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that the nation of Israel comes into existence.
• God promised Abraham’s family an eternal seed, land and a kingdom. Genesis gives the background for the fulfillment of these promises.
• God requires that men trust and obey Him. Like Abraham, those who trust God are counted as righteous. God blesses those who follow him and curses those who don’t.
• Part of God’s requirement for maintaining a positive relationship with Him is substitutionary sacrifice for sin. From the very beginning, God required the shedding of blood to pay for sin. This foreshadows the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin when Jesus died on the cross.

3. God sovereignly controls all things, including the affairs of men.

• God displays His sovereignty throughout the entire book. He wills the universe into existence, creates the first people, destroys the earth with a flood, confuses the languages, and chooses Abram’s family to be His people. God’s hand of guidance is clearly seen again and again. Nothing happens randomly. God is firmly in control of all things. What God promises He is able to fulfill.
• A very prominent theme in Genesis is God’s unconditional choice of the Israelite nation through Abraham, which is described in the Abrahamic covenant (12:1-3; 15:1-21).

Conclusion

Much of what is begun in Genesis is fulfilled in Christ. He is the seed who will destroy Satan. He is the ultimate offspring promised to Abraham. Because of their union with Christ, believers participate in many of the blessings God promised to Abraham. The paradise lost by the first Adam is restored by the last Adam, Jesus Christ. Genesis explains the origins of God’s dealings with man and sets the stage for the rest of the Bible. If you don’t understand this book, the remaining 65 books will be closed to you.

Discussion

1. Summarize the book of Genesis. Creation, fall, flood, Babel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph.

2. What is the major theme of Genesis? God’s providential care for His people.

3. Who is the main character in the book? Other than God, Abraham.

4. Why is Genesis such an important book? Because it gives the origins of everything and sets the stage for the rest of the Bible. All the other biblical books are based on Genesis.

INTRODUCTION: It is very important for Christians to get a general overview of the Bible because it is their source of faith and practice. This series is designed to examine the backgrounds and themes of Genesis through Esther.

[This is called a survey because we will hit just the highlights of the books we study, not much in depth. We’ll talk about authorship, dates, some history, etc., and the main themes or messages of the books, but that’s about it. So it will be a kind of “hit and run” series. ]

The Bible is God’s written revelation of Himself to mankind. It was written by men who were “carried along” (2 Pet 1:21) by the Holy Spirit so that the autographs (i.e., the original documents) were verbally and plenarily inspired and thus without error. Verbal inspiration means that every word of Scripture is inspired (Matt 5:18; 1 Cor 2:13), not just its thoughts or ideas. The Bible does not merely contain or reflect God’s Word; it is God’s Word in its entirety.

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE:

1. The Bible is one book composed of 66 books. It was written over a period of about 1,500 years by some 40 different authors.

2. Each book has a definite purpose or theme. Each writer had a specific message for a certain audience. Our task is to find the theme and then apply the principles of each book to our lives.

[The theme is usually the author’s purpose. I.e., why did he write? E.g., John 20:31]

3. The OT is composed of 39 books. They fit into the following categories:

* Law (Genesis – Deuteronomy; also called the Pentateuch or Torah)

* History (Joshua ? Esther)

* Poetry (Job ? Song of Solomon)

* Major Prophets (Isaiah ? Daniel)

* Minor Prophets (Hosea ? Malachi)

[What’s the difference between major and minor prophets? They are not called the “minor” prophets because they are any less important; they are simply shorter books.]

The Old Testament lays the foundation for the coming of the Messiah anticipating Him as Prophet, Priest, and King and as the suffering Savior who must die for man’s sin before He reigns.

The first five books of the OT are sometimes called the Pentateuch, which means “five books.” They are also known as the books of the Law because they contain the laws and instruction given by the Lord through Moses to the peo­ple of Israel. Moses wrote these books, except for the last portion of Deuteronomy (which tells of Moses’ death). These five books lay the foundation for the coming of Christ. As God’s chosen people, Israel became the custodians of the Old Testament, the recipients of the covenants of promise, and the channel of Messiah (Rom. 3:2; 9:1-5). ¹

4. The NT is composed of 27 books.

· Gospels (Matthew ? John): Tell the story of the coming of the long-anticipated Savior and His person and work

· History (Acts): Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Acts proclaims the message of the Savior who has come.

· Paul’s Letters (Romans ? Philemon) and General Epistles (Hebrews ? Jude): Develop the full significance of the person and work of Christ and how this should impact the walk of the Christian as Christ’s ambassador in the world

·

Prophecy (Revelation, also called the Apocalypse): Anticipates the end time events and the return of the Lord, His end time reign, and the eternal state

IMPORTANT TERMS TO KNOW:

Inspiration: that supernatural influence whereby the Holy Spirit caused men to compose and record without error the very words of God’s choosing as found in the original manuscripts (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21). God did this without overriding the individual personalities of the writers in the process. Inspiration technically applies only to the originals (1 Cor 14:37). Copies and translations are inspired to the degree that they accurately reflect the originals. Versions such as the KJV, NKJV, NASB, and NIV are accurate, reliable and suitable for personal reading and study.

[Remember that translations and versions are not the product of inspiration per se. The miracle of inspiration occurred only once–when God originally gave the material to the writers. Modern versions are inspired in a derivative sense, i.e., in that they accurately reflect the originals, they are inspired.

Preservation is providential, not miraculous.]

Revelation: the content of God’s communication to man; the facts and ideas that God wanted recorded in Scripture.

General revelation: information that comes to all men generally. General revelation is a universal witness to God’s existence, power and deity (Rom 1:20). All men know God because of creation (Ps 8:1?3, 19:1?6; Rom 1:18?20) and conscience (Rom 1:18?21, 2:14?15). General revelation is not sufficient for salvation. Man is condemned because he perverts and rejects what knowledge of God he has.

Special revelation: information disclosed to a specific individual or group. The Bible is special revelation. Scripture is sufficient for man’s condemnation, salvation, and sanctification (John 17:17, 20:31; Rom 10:14?17; Heb 1:1?2).

Canonicity: the historical process whereby God, through the Holy Spirit, directed His people to recognize and collect the inspired writings. The word “canon” means “standard” or “rule.” A book that is canonical is part of the standard or canon. Only those books which bore the marks of canonicity were included in the canon. Man did not determine which books were canonical (they were canonical the moment they were penned); he simply recognized which ones were. The canon is comprised of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments (1 Pet 3:16; 1 John 4:6; Rev 22:18?19). The canon was permanently closed with the writing of the book of Revelation at the end of the first century AD (Rev 22:18-19). Because the canon is closed, we don’t believe that God is currently issuing direct revelation to anyone.

Tests of Canonicity

Have you ever wondered why certain books were included in the canon? How could the early believers tell that the works of Isaiah, Paul or Peter were inspired and authoritative? They employed several tests of authenticity:

OT: Because of the old age of the OT, what tests believers used to recognize the inspired writings from all others is hard to determine. For all Scripture, the ultimate proof is the testimony of the Holy Spirit to the authority of His own Word in the heart of the community of believers. The OT authors were “holy men of God” who spoke (or wrote) as the Holy Spirit carried them along (2 Pet 1:21). God insured that His people would recognize and receive His inspired Word. God’s people recognize God’s writing. Although we know that it occurred, we may never understand the exact mechanism of this process.

NT: The early church apparently employed the following tests to help them recognize the inspired books from those not inspired:

1. Apostolicity—written by an apostle or the close associate of an apostle. For example, Luke, the author of Luke and Acts, was a close associate of the apostles.

2. Catholicity—universal (the word “catholic” means “universal”) recognition by believers. The book was relevant to all and accepted by all.

3. Orthodoxy—agreement with the faith of the church. “Orthodox” means “straight” or “right.” A book had to conform to the faith that the church had already received.

4. Traditional Usage—customary employment by the church in worship and teaching. Believers found the book to be edifying and used it in their services.

What About Other Books?

Along with both the inspired OT and NT books were written other religious books that most believers did not think were inspired. These books are usually called the Apocrypha. Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox traditions include several apocryphal books in their Bibles that Protestants do not recognize as canonical. Protestants reject the Apocrypha because they do not pass the tests of canonicity listed above, although it may be profitable to read them. ²

Where Is God’s Word Today?

If God’s Word is true and if He has preserved it, it stands to reason that we should be able to obtain a perfectly accurate copy of it. So where is it? In what text is God’s Word perfectly preserved?

Unfortunately, the autographs (i.e., the original documents) no longer exist. Further, because imperfect people have been responsible to copy and care for the text, small errors or inaccuracies have been introduced into it. So it’s impossible to point to one version or one text as the absolutely perfect copy of the preserved Word of God. [3.There are no two ancient copies of the text that are absolutely identical. Before the introduction of the printing press, creating an absolutely perfect copy was virtually impossible. Small, minor variations always creep in to hand made copies.] Where is God’s Word perfectly recorded? In the many existing Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. It’s the job of textual scholars and translators to compare all the textual evidence and put together the best possible version. For common use, versions such as the KJV, NKJ, NASB, or NIV are accurate and dependable. ³

Interpretation: the process of arriving at the correct understanding of Scripture. One should interpret each passage according to its grammatical, historical, literary, and theological context. The central message of the Bible is essentially clear (Ps 119:105, 130). [5.The theological word for this truth is “perspicuity,” which means “essentially clear.”] Anyone can determine the basic meaning of Scripture through proper methods of interpretation. However, only saved individuals can grasp the significance of Scripture (1 Cor 2:14). Theologians sometimes use the word hermeneutics to describe the art and science of interpretation.

Conclusion

It’s essential for us to learn the central truths of the Bible. But the goal is neither mere academic knowledge nor the accumulation of facts. The goal is to get to know God better, to know ourselves better, and to better be able to serve God. Had God not preserved His Word, it would have disintegrated into the dust of the Middle East long before now. But because God promised that His Word “shall stand forever” (Isa 40.8), we can be confident that we have it in an accurate and dependable form today.

Discussion:

1. How do you find the theme of a book? [Try to figure out the author’s purpose for writing. Sometimes this is stated outright, but normally you have to make an educated guess at why the author wrote. Study Bibles and commentaries usually have such info.

2. What are three names for the first 5 books of the Bible? [Pentateuch, Torah, the Law]

3. Define the process of inspiration. [Inspiration is that supernatural influence whereby the Holy Spirit caused men to compose and record without error the very words of God’s choosing as found in the original manuscripts.]

4. What’s the difference between general revelation and special revelation? [General extends to all people, while special was given to a select group.]

5. What is the canon? [That group of books recognized as God’s word. “Canon” means “rule” or “standard.”]

6. What do we call the other books that are included in some Bibles but that most Protestants do not recognize? [the Apocrypha]

History is long gone, especially 1611 England. Over the years, many have assumed certain things to be true of the King James translation. Without clear, historical documentation, many things were just assumed or misunderstood. Since true historical facts require documentation, it is absolutely critical to find those documents. Without the documents, historical revisionism creeps into our understanding.

Rick Norris shows a commitment to historical accuracy in his book, The Unbound Scriptures. The amount of sources he used is staggering. I would love to see his library. Norris includes well-known people and lesser known. His research is wide-ranging.

While the book has an encyclopedic feel to it, it is very readable. He provides prolific quotations throughout the text. There is no need for you to flip to the end of the chapter to read endnotes or glance up and down the page to see footnotes. Each point is sufficiently illustrated and proven with direct quotations from the source. In cases where there are open questions, Rick gives both sides of the argument.

This is not a book that you will leave on your shelf once you read it. You will revisit it over and over as an encyclopedic resource.

The King James Only idea is certainly controversial. It morphs with every generation. The book keeps pace with the current arguments and simply brings forth quotes of those who lived during the times of the translation, those who fought the Bible translation battles in the past and today’s voices. This is a must add to your library.

How do you get a copy?

Here is the ordering information:

The regular price for one copy of book The Unbound Scriptures–$18.00 plus $3.00 for shipping and handling and plus 7% sales tax for North Carolina residents. Shipping to foreign countries is more than $3.00. Future postage increases by the post office may result in higher shipping costs. Contact the author at the following email address: rick1560@juno.com or by mail at Rick Norris, 508 Westminster Drive, Statesville, NC 28677

The KJVO Claim

Will Kinney suggests that 1 Samuel 13:21 causes confusion among those of us who prefer the modern versions. His claim is that the KJV uses the word “file” in this passage and that the modern versions create confusion by using “two-thirds of a shekel.”

Here is a quick comparison/contrast of the versions:

• KJV: Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.
• NIV: The price was two thirds of a shekel for sharpening plowshares and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.
• NKJV: …and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads.
• ESV: …and the charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads.

Why do the modern versions, including the New King James Version, read differently?

A PiM or a “file”?

The KJV translates this Hebrew passage as "…they had a file…" The translators are following the Targums and Syriac Versions for their understanding of this term. The reason is that before the 1900s, a “PiM” was unknown. Even Hebrew scribes centuries ago were unfamiliar with this weight. Therefore, this was considered a “dubious” Hebrew word and best guesses were made as to the meaning of the term. Since this is the only place in the Old Testament that this term was used, the only clues were the context of the passage and a similar looking, but very different word meaning “to make wide (some say ‘mouth’)” made best sense. The problem is that the word PiM is NOT (and cannot be) the plural for the word "mouth" (PeH) as Kinney suggests (following the KJV marginal note). This verse has been problematic for that very reason. Besides, there is another perfectly fine, common word for "file" (?araqa).

Through archeological digs in the early 1900s where the Philistines once lived, many stones were found with the word “PiM” written on them. This is a stone that was used on scales to determine the value of objects/services. This weight was two-thirds the weight of a full shekel. For this reason, until the beginning of the 1900s, this word was obscure and no one knew what it really meant.

For More Information

• Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament: 1766b
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Volume 4, pg. 1053 “Weights and Measurements” I.D.6.
• Wikipedia, PIM_weight
• Jou?on, P., & Muraoka, T. (2006). A grammar of biblical Hebrew. §98e footnote 4.

Brad Anderson

The media has informed us about a spate of moral failures of late. Perhaps the most well-known is that of SC governor Mark Sanford and his adulterous relationship with an Argentinean woman. This is particularly surprising and shameful because Sanford claims to be a Christian and an ardent defender of family values. Now he’s the butt of jokes a prime example of hypocrisy for liberals to criticize.

Others have recently fallen into similar sins. Louisiana Senator David Vitter, who is married and has four children, admitted involvement with an “escort” service. Republican Senator John Ensign of Nevada, a leading conservative and potential presidential candidate, recently admitted an affair with a campaign staffer who was the wife of a close friend. John Edwards, former VP candidate, had an illicit affair while his wife was struggling with cancer. Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was shot and killed recently, apparently by his 20-year-old girlfriend, a former waitress. McNair was 36 years old, married, and had four sons. He was known not only as a great athlete but also as a generous and caring man, an exemplary citizen. Yet he was carrying on an adulterous affair with this girl little more than half his age. McNair’s wife didn’t find out about the affair until she heard about her husband’s death.

In each of these stories, we find intelligent, talented, professional men who risked their careers and family lives for temporary pleasure. In McNair’s case, his philandering cost him his life. It remains to be seen how these adulterous affairs will affect the politicians involved. Years ago, such affairs would mean the end of their political careers (e.g., the name Gary Hart may ring a bell). Today, after 8 years of Bill Clinton as president, such affairs are mostly shrugged off and ignored by the public. People almost expect politicians to have affairs, and when they do, it’s no big deal. Personal lives and public lives are separate.

These men, and the women involved with them, gave in to temptation. Circumstances presented opportunities to them to gratify their passions and lusts, and they gave in.

Quote from Gene Lyons’ recent article: ¹ [Mark Sanford] married [into] money, went into real estate, then politics. Like many South Carolina aristocrats, he’s an Episcopalian. However, like most Southern Republicans, Sanford talked like a biblical fundamentalist, piously condemning others’ sexual sins and boasting about his own righteousness. Such simple-minded certitudes often fail to survive exposure to the wider world. One dark-eyed temptress and it all comes undone.

It’s not only politicians and athletes who succumb to “dark-eyed temptresses” of the world. Self-professed Biblical fundamentalists, who piously condemn others’ sins, give in to temptation and ruin their lives as well. How many pastors have taken off with the church secretaries? How many have been ruined by pornography? E.g., Bob Gray in Florida.

None of us are beyond temptation— Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1Co 10:12

In light of these events, I thought it might be helpful for us to consider what the Bible says about temptation and how to deal with it.

1. Define temptation
   1. Temptation is essentially a solicitation or enticement to sin.

James 1:13-14 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

1. 1. The biblical word “tempt” can refer to a trial or a testing of one’s faith. E.g., God tested Abraham’s faith when he told him to sacrifice Isaac. This was a test, not a solicitation/enticement to do evil. God never tempts anyone to sin, never entices anyone to sin.
   2. I’ll be using the word “temptation” in the sense of “enticed to sin,” not in the sense of a test or trial of faith. However, every solicitation to sin is a test or trial of our faith. Not every test/trial is an enticement to sin.
2. Facts about temptation
   1. Temptation is universal. “Every man is tempted” (James 1:14). Temptation is “common to man” (1 Cor 10:13). We live with temptations every day. Even Jesus was tempted.

We perhaps think that we live at a time when temptation is more strong or powerful than ever before. But that’s not really true. Think of society under pagan cultures—Greeks, Romans, Chinese—east Asians, etc. In some cultures, there are virtually no limitations on immorality—it’s open, blatant, and expected. E.g., temple of Aphrodite at Corinth, 1000 prostitutes; fertility religions were common.

Temptation has been common in all cultures and times. Our own western culture is rather tame compared to some others. I admit that it’s getting worse all the time. But it’s not as bad as it could be.

1. 1. Temptation is not sin. Jesus was “tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). Yielding is sin.
   2. Temptation may be satanic. Satan is called “the tempter” (cf. Mt 4:3; 1 Thes 3:5). He is the father of temptation; he originated the idea.
      1. We often think of Satan tempting us, but there is only one of him, and he can be in only one place at a time.
      2. Can demons tempt us? I am unaware of any biblical text that suggests that.
      3. The emphasis in the Bible is temptation is the enticement to sin that corresponds to our own sinful nature, particularly, our desires. Satan is not involved in most instances of temptation.
      4. Nevertheless, temptation is satanic in origin.

1. 1. Temptation is closely associated with desire/lust. Temptation works by appealing to something inherent or organic within humanity.

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

1. 1. 1. The passions of the flesh or our appetites, in and of themselves, are not wrong. They are God-given as part of humanity. E.g., we have a natural desire to eat and to sleep. But if we eat or sleep too much, it’s sin. We have a natural desire for companionship with the opposite sex. Marriage is God’s program to fulfill that desire. If we fulfill that desire outside of marriage, it’s sinful.
      2. In our sinfulness, we tend to corrupt God’s plan or program for fulfilling our natural desires. E.g., the men I mentioned earlier were all married, yet sought to fulfill their appetites outside of marriage.
      3. Our minds have a hard time controlling the lusts of the flesh. Our appetites can become so strong that they almost bypass our minds. Once we start giving in to the flesh, our appetites have the capacity to override our common sense.

E.g., Sanford—telling everyone he was hiking in the mountains when he was down in Argentina, thinking no one would find out??? That’s just plain stupid.

E.g., Eliot Spitzer, the former governor of NY, and the former DA of NY, allegedly met regularly with “escorts” for 1.5 years before he was identified and forced to resign.

E.g., Steve McNair carrying on with this 20-year-old when he had 4 kids and a wife at home.

Ridiculous, stupid, irrational. The appetites take over and the rational mind seems to shut down.

Read Prov 7:5ff (esp. vss. 22-23)

1. 1. Temptation usually follows a pattern.

James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

1. 1. 1. The process of giving in to temptation often starts in very small ways. First we make quite minor compromises before moving on to greater and greater sins.
      2. Quote: “Nearly every grave moral failure begins with a small sin. Because there comes a time, after we toy with sin, when one pull of the flesh causes us to cross the line, to disengage from reason, and to follow our appetites wherever they may lead.” ²

E.g., King David—he merely caught a glimpse of a woman, and it led to multiple sins—adultery and murder among them.

1. 1. 1. It’s very easy to toy with sin these days. With all the different media outlets providing loads of ungodly materials, you have to be very careful to avoid exposure.
      2. So flagrant sin usually starts with small compromises. You being toying with sin, entertaining sinful thoughts, indulging the flesh in small ways. Soon you can tolerate more sin, you rationalize it away, and eventually your flesh overcomes all restraint. Your fleshly appetites overwhelm your normal self-control and you indulge in blatant sin with no regard for the consequences.

1. Strategies to overcome temptation

We know that we will face temptations daily. We know that we struggle to control our natural human appetites. We know that flagrant sin often starts with small compromises. What else do we need to know to overcome temptation?

1. 1. Recognize and admit your human frailties and weaknesses.
      1. Mt 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.
      2. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1Co 10:12
      3. We may think that we are somehow beyond temptation. That’s not true. Given the right set of circumstances and pressures, we very well might give in/yield to temptation.
      4. E.g., David, the “sweet psalmist of Israel,” the great king. No one would have expected him to do what he did. But given the right set of circumstances, he sinned grievously.
   2. Rely on God’s strength and the resources He provides. 1 Cor 10:13
      1. “God is faithful”
         1. The solution to the problem is God. God provides all the resources we need to overcome temptation.
         2. It follows, then, that the solution is not within ourselves. It’s not merely a matter of will power or self-control. We must bring God into the equation. We must rely on His power to get us thru temptations.
      2. God has promised not to allow temptations beyond our ability to withstand it. I.e., we are not victims. We can’t claim that we had no choice—“I was overwhelmed; I couldn’t control myself.” Not true.
         1. Remember that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:13).
         2. Contrary to what some people tell us, we are not mere animals who must follow our instincts. With God’s help, we can control ourselves. Self-control is one of the fruit of the Spirit.
      3. God will provide a way to escape or a way to bear with the temptation.
         1. Escape is a good strategy for dealing with temptation. “Flee youthful lusts” (James 4:7). E.g., Joseph ran away from Pot’s wife.

E.g., How Steve McNair should have reacted: met this waitress at a restaurant, finds her attractive and interesting, feels his lust kick in. What should he have done? Leave the place and never come back. He should not have entertained the idea in his mind.

1. 1. 1. 1. Sometimes we can’t escape from temptations. We can’t flee from some circumstances. And I admit that persevering under a long-standing temptation is very difficult. But it’s not impossible.

Jas 1:12 Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Ge 39:10 And it came to pass, as [Potiphar’s wife] spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, [or] to be with her.

1. 1. Pray.
      1. Mt 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.
      2. It’s not impossible, but it’s pretty hard to yield to temptation immediately after you’ve prayed and asked God to help you resist temptation.

1. 1. Resist. James 4:7
      1. Resist means, “To set one’s self against, to withstand, to oppose.”
      2. It suggests active opposition, not merely holding steady.

Illus.: think of a tug of war (not a perfect analogy, but close) —you don’t merely stand steady; that’s not the goal. You pull in the opposite direction.

1. 1. 1. Similarly, in a temptation, we actively resist and oppose the devil. We pull back—oppose, not merely try to hold steady.
   2. Consider the consequences of giving in to temptation.
      1. If you are tempted by a piece of pie, the consequences of eating it will likely be rather minor—perhaps an extra pound or two.
      2. If you are tempted to steal something, the consequences may be rather significant.
      3. If you are tempted to commit adultery, the consequences may be monumental. Read Prov 5:3-5, 9-11, 21-23
      4. What were the consequences for David?
         1. Child died.
         2. Trouble in his family the rest of his life; i.e., misery and sorrow.
         3. Worst consequence: 2 Sam 12:14 by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, …

The enemies of God have a field day when self-proclaimed conservatives and Christians fall into sin. That’s exactly what the liberal media has done to Sanford.

1. 1. 1. What were the consequences for Eliot Spitzer? Lost his job as governor, potentially a bid for the presidency. Sanford was thought of as a presidential contender; no more.
      2. The appeal of the fleshly passions is so strong that a person is often willing to sacrifice virtually everything to fulfill that desire. If you give yourself over to fulfilling the desires of the flesh, you eventually lose self-control.
   2. Fill your mind with the Word of God.

Ps 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.

Ps 119:11 ¶ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Jesus provides a good example for us. When Satan tempted Jesus, how did he respond? “It is written…” (Mt 4:1f)

1. 1. Fulfill your appetites in appropriate ways.
      1. God has provided proper means of fulfilling our passions and desires. The Bible gives us full permission to fulfill those desires in proper ways.
      2. Unfortunately, the human heart has almost infinite capacities for sin, so even if you are seeking to fulfill your desires legitimately, it does not shield you completely from temptations. But it certainly helps.
      3. E.g., Prov 5:15-18
      4. E.g., what should David have done after lusting over Bathsheba? I don’t want to be crass here, but he could have called one of his wives; he easily could have expressed his physical desire legitimately with a woman he was already married to.
   2. Take practical steps to protect yourself.
      1. Seek an accountability partner. Cf. Prov 13:20
      2. Be careful who you spend time with. “Friends” can be a significant source of temptation.
         1. Prov 1:10 “If sinners entice thee…”
         2. 1Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
      3. Install safeguards like Internet filters and/or cable TV controls. Disconnect the cable at hotels.
      4. Keep yourself occupied. “Idol hands are the devil’s workshop.”
      5. Stay away from things that excite your lustful passions. E.g., the magazine rack in the book store, the TV, the computer, etc. cf. Prov 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence…”
      6. Be sensitive about sin; don’t compromise or toy with it; don’t rationalize it or excuse it.
      7. If you do fall into sin, respond appropriately: confess the sin, forsake it, make amends for it if necessary, and put safeguards into place so you don’t give into temptation like that again.

Conc: We live in a world that is full of temptations. Dark-eyed temptresses abound, enticing us with the prospect of forbidden pleasures. Yet we must not give in to temptation. We must remember that “God is faithful” and he will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.