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One Year Bible Challenge, Week 43

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Week 43

October 22 to 28, 20111

This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.

OLD TESTAMENT READINGS: Jeremiah 39:1 to 52:34

Themes and stories: Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonian and his army sieged Jerusalem. After more than a year, all of Jerusalem was about starved to death. When the Babylonians finally breached the city wall, King Zedekiah and his officials made a run for it. The Babylonians caught them on the plains of Jericho. Nebuchadnezzar had the king’s sons slaughtered in front of him. Then he poked out Zedekiah’s eyes and had him taken to Babylonian in chains. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that the Prophet, Jeremiah not be harmed. Jeremiah was given the choice to travel to Babylonian, where he was assured he’d be well cared for. But Jeremiah decided to stay in Judah, even though it meant sharing the hardships of his people in their conquered nation. Only the poorest people were allowed to remain in Judah. All the others were taken to Babylonian. Gedaliah was appointed Governor by Nebuchadnezzar. Gedaliah was overpowered and murdered as he dined with his killer and his friends.

In chapter 42, the remnant of the people remaining in Judah asked Jeremiah to pray for them as to where they should go and what they should do. God told Jeremiah he should instruct the people to stay where they were. Jeremiah warned them to not go to Egypt. The people ignored Jeremiah’s advice, and went to Egypt anyway, where they worships idols.

Jeremiah’s prophesied against the Egyptians:

[25] The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh, and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. [26] I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadrez’zar king of Babylon and his officers. Jeremiah 46:25-26 (RSV).

Jeremiah’s prophesied against the Philistines:

[1] The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh smote Gaza. [2] “Thus says the LORD: Behold, waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Men shall cry out, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail. Jeremiah 47:1-2 (RSV).

Jeremiah’s prophesied against the Moabites:

[9] “Give wings to Moab, for she would fly away; her cities shall become a desolation, with no inhabitant in them. [10] “Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness; and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed. Jeremiah 48:9-10 (RSV).

Jeremiah’s prophesied against the Ammonites:

[2] Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will cause the battle cry to be heard against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it shall become a desolate mound, and its villages shall be burned with fire; then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the LORD. Jeremiah 49:2 (RSV).

Jeremiah’s also prophesied against the Edomites, Syrians, and Elamites. He prophesied against Kedar and Hazor.

Jeremiah’s prophesied against the Babylonians:

[1] The word which the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chalde’ans, by Jeremiah the prophet: [2] “Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: `Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Mer’odach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.’ [3] “For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and beast shall flee away. Jeremiah 50:1-3 (RSV).

zedekiahChapter 51 of the Book of Jeremiah ends, “Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.” Jeremiah 52:64 (RSV). This appears to be a natural end to the book; but another chapter (52) follows. Chapter 52 contains details about the fall of Jerusalem. Some commentators consider chapter 52 to be an appendix to Jeremiah, which:

  1. Shows that the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity happened, as the prophet predicted; and
  2. Serves as preface to the next book, Lamentations.

Discussion points: Why did Nebuchadnezzar protect Jeremiah?

Psalms: Psalm 90:1 to 100:5

Proverbs: Proverbs 26:1 to 26:19

NEW TESTAMENT READINGS: 2 Timothy 1:1 to Titus 3:15

Themes and stories: 2 Timothy is Paul’s letter to Timothy. Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful. He recalls Timothy’s mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, both who were women of faith.

Paul warns Timothy of the difficult times that await in the last days:

[1] But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. [2] For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, [4] treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people. [6] For among them are those who make their way into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and swayed by various impulses, [7] who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7 (RSV).

The Book of Titus is Paul’s letter to Titus, a Greek who may have been converted to Christianity by Paul’s ministry.

Paul describes the qualifications for church leaders. These are similar to the instructions he gave to Timothy for church leaders in Ephesus:

  • [6] An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Titus 1:6 (NIV).
  • [7] For a bishop,2 as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, [8] but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled; [9] he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it. Titus 1:6 (RSV).

Paul warns against false teachers. He says they must be silenced, because they are upsetting whole families.

In Titus 2:2-10 (NIV), Paul gives advice for different types of church members.

  • [2] Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
  • [3] Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
  • [4] Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, [5] to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
  • [6] Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. [7] In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness [8] and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
  • [9] Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, [10] and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Good works are important, but avoid useless arguments:

[8] This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.

[9] But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. [10] Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, [11] knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned. Titus 3:8-11 (Holman Christian Standard Bible )

Discussion points: Why is the Bible so important? Is it literally the word of God?

DISCUSSION POINTS AND VERSES — Christian Men’s Breakfast only3

The discussion notes ( PDF / TEXT ) for breakfast on Saturday, October 29, 2011 are now online — ”The Word of God”. This is week 43, which means we are entering the last 10 weeks of the ONE YEAR BIBLE CHALLENGE. This week we finish Jeremiah. Some nations and people did not do so well. We also read in 2 Timothy and Titus. Discussion verses: Jeremiah 39:11-14 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17

FOOTNOTES
  1. The notes, summaries and points on this page are intended as bookmarks of important matters which are covered in this week’s readings. They are not intended as complete summaries of readings. Please forgive me if some of my summaries are not 100% on point. Read the manual–i.e. Bible–so that you will get a more clear understanding of the material. Thank you.
    –Tom Truex ↩
  2. Elder is translated in some versions as “overseer” ↩
  3. Subject to change. ↩

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One Year Bible Challenge, Week 36

Welcome back from summer break. I hope you are (more or less) current with your Bible Readings. The men’s Bible Study group is starting again this week. You should be hearing about other study groups through normal channels.
bible

Week 36

September 3rd to 9th, 20111

This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.

OLD TESTAMENT READINGS: Ecclesiastes 4:1 to Isaiah 5:30

Themes and stories: Ecclesiastes is Solomon’s written sermon about his experiences in life and his conclusions. Some readers may avoid the book altogether because they find it pessimistic. Bible believing Christians, obviously, will conclude Ecclesiastes is in the Bible for a reason, difficult as the interpretation of the Book is at times.

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 1 begins,

[1] The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. [2] Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. [3] What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? [4] A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains for ever. Ecclesiastes 1:1-4 (RSV).

It is not that the world lacks purpose. But the world, without God, would be without purpose.

Solomon’s estimation of wisdom, for it’s own sake, is no better:

[16] I said to myself, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” [17] And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. [18] For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:16-18. (RSV).

In chapter 2, Solomon condemns pleasures as meaningless.

In chapter 3, Solomon condemns work as meaningless.

Chapter 3 opens with the verses immortalized in popular culture in the Song, “Turn, Turn, Turn.”

Chapter 4 continues with more about oppression and sadness in life.

Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. Ecclesiastes 1:1-4 (RSV).

Chapter 7 continues with bits of wisdom, with a melancholy tone:

[2] It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for this is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to heart. [3] Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad. [4] The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. [5] It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. [6] For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 7:2-6 (RSV).

Solomon notes in Ecclesiastes 10:1 (RSV), “[1] Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off an evil odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.”

In the end, Solomon gives advice which is easily understood, and in a more hopeful tone:

[13] The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. [14] For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (RSV).

Song of Solomon: This book is traditionally attributed to Solomon. It is a love song between Solomon and a beautiful woman he finds working in the vineyard. Some say the book is an allegory of God’s for for Israel and/or the church. Others say it is a literal story about married love and sex. It may be both.

A plate from Sir Wm Russell Flint's 1909 Song of Solomon
A plate from Sir Wm Russell Flint's 1909 Song of Solomon
Example, Song of Solomon 1:2-4 (NIV):

She
[2] Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— for your love is more delightful than wine.
[3] Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the young women love you!
[4] Take me away with you—let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers.
Friends
We rejoice and delight in you we will praise your love more than wine.

Isaiah: Named for the prophet who lived during the time the original nation of Israel had been divided into two kingdoms, Israel in the North, and Judah, in the South. During this time the Israelites had rebelled and broken their covenant with God.

“Ah, sinful nation,
a people laden with iniquity,
offspring of evildoers,
sons who deal corruptly!
They have forsaken the LORD,
they have despised the Holy One of Israel,
they are utterly estranged. “ Isaiah 1:4 (RSV)

In chapter 3, Isaiah warns of judgment on Judah:

“Their partiality witnesses against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom, they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil upon themselves.” Isaiah 3:9 (RSV).

Discussion points: If Solomon believed in God, why did he write about so many things that are apparently wrong with the world? Specifically, Ecclesiastes 4?

Slow Suicide
[1-3] Next I turned my attention to all the outrageous violence that takes place on this planet—the tears of the victims, no one to comfort them; the iron grip of oppressors, no one to rescue the victims from them. So I congratulated the dead who are already dead instead of the living who are still alive. But luckier than the dead or the living is the person who has never even been, who has never seen the bad business that takes place on this earth.
[4] Then I observed all the work and ambition motivated by envy. What a waste! Smoke. And spitting into the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:1-4 (The Message).

Psalms: Psalm 47:1 to 53:6

Proverbs: Proverbs 22:16 to 22:29

NEW TESTAMENT READINGS: 2 Corinthians 6:14 to 11:15

Themes and stories:

“[14] Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14 (RSV).

Some sources emphasize this prohibition as applying specifically to marriage. But most of the commentators interpret this scripture to apply generally, warning against any close relationship with the unrighteous or unbelievers. Christians run the risk of being lead astray through close, intimate relationships with others. However, don’t take this to mean that we shouldn’t have ANY dealings with non-Christians. If we forsake all contact, how can we witness to unbelievers?

Paul writes about the church in Macedonia. They were facing severe economic trials, which he calls “extreme poverty.” Yet they were still generous in their support of the church. “For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will.”

[6] The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [7] Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [8]And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. [9] As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-9

In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul warns against false apostles.

[10] As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. [11] Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!  [12] And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. [13] For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. [14] And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. [15] It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
2 Corinthians 11:10-15 (NIV)

Discussion points: What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 8:15 (ESV), “As it is written, ‘Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.’”

DISCUSSION POINTS AND VERSES — Christian Men’s Breakfast only2

The discussion notes ( PDF / TEXT ) for breakfast on Saturday, September 10, 2011 are now online — ”A Time for Every Matter”. Our Old Testament Readings this week begin with Ecclesiates and Song of Solomon — two books which are more difficult to decipher than some other parts of the Bible. We’ll also address Paul’s continuing instructions to the New Testament church in the book of 2 Corinthians Discussion verses: Ecclesiastes 4:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8:15

  1. The notes, summaries and points on this page are intended as bookmarks of important matters which are covered in this week’s readings. They are not intended as complete summaries of readings. Please forgive me if some of my summaries are not 100% on point. Read the manual–i.e. Bible–so that you will get a more clear understanding of the material. Thank you.
    –Tom Truex ↩
  2. Subject to change. ↩

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