Class Notes, 1 Cor 4:1-21

• Potential order of events
  
  • Paul's founding visit // His "former letter" // The Corinthians letter to him // First Corinthians //
    
  • Paul's "painful visit" // His "severe letter" // Second Corinthians //Paul's anticipated visit
    

  1 Cor 4:1-5 (NIV) So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
  

• Paul used a different word for servants here (hyperetai) than he did in 3:5 (diakonoi). This word means an under-rower, a figure taken from the galley ships of the time. Slaves who rowed under the authority of the man who coordinated their individual efforts propelled the ship (Constable, 2010, p. 38)
  
• So, first of all, what is Paul's concern?
  
  • That he is faithful to God
    
  • That he gives God's message (and not his) to those tom whom he has been entrusted
    
  • Why does he say that, or what is the point?
    
    • He is not trying to curry favor
      
    • He is not trying to tell people what they want to hear
      
• Are there any other clues to Paul's motive for writing this paragraph?
  
  • "God will expose the motives of men's hearts." -- God will judge Paul for why he taught what he did
    
  • "At that time each will receive his praise from God." -- Paul is not trying to please men but God
    
• Constable speculates that the Corinthian church was disillusioned with its minister because he lacked "charismatic" qualities
  

  1 Cor 4:6-7 (NIV) Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
  

• The word "arrogant" or "puffed up" appears a number of times in this letter, and gives us a clue to the church's primary issue
  
• Paul begins to deal with this of pride. What are his main points?
  
  • First of all, they should not go beyond the scripture
    
  • There were truths (secret and hidden) which God reveals in the NT. Paul says that he is one of those individuals that God has entrusted with those truths
    
  • But ultimately, even the mysteries of scripture were hinted at in the OT
    
  • Paul makes three points regarding the Corinthians using questions
    
    • They are no different than anyone else
      
    • Everything they have they have received (including knowledge). It did not come from within
      
    • Since they received it, why are they boasting? If the knowledge came from God, then why take pride in the knowledge
      

  1 Cor 4:8-13 (NIV) Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings — and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
  

• Paul does not often use irony and sarcasm, although that was a common mode of discourse in Greco-Roman antiquity (Keener, 2005, p.45)
  
• Why is verse 8 so over the top; what is he saying?
  
  • One, they are so prideful
    
  • Two, they are living lives as if their already experiencing their reward here on earth
    
• How, on the other hand, is Paul living?
  
  • They are like fools at the end of the process. The bottom of the pit. People laugh at them
    
  • Paul contrasts the apostles to the Corinthians
    
    • We are fools for Christ -- you are so wise (problem one: they aren't, they just think they are)
      
    • We are weak -- you are so strong (actually, life might be good, but that does not mean they are strong. In fact, their faith is probably very weak)
      
    • We are dishonored -- you are honored (they look distinguished and important, the apostles look unimportant)
      
  • Paul lived
    
    • Hungry, thirsty, in rags, brutally treated, homeless, working with their own hands
      
    • Blessing those who curse them
      
    • Enduring persecution
      
    • Answering kindly to slander
      
    • Being treated and the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world ("dog poop")
      
• APPLICATION: Paul is contrasting his role and an under-rower (and servant) to the Corinthian's role as victors enjoying the plunder. God has put us all in unique situations and we need to use whatever situation he has put us in for good. But the real danger is when we begin to think we are experiencing our reward on earth. Or when we love our life so much more than we love serving our savior.
  

  1 Cor 4:14-17 (NIV) I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
  

• Now we are getting to the heart of what Paul is trying to say to them. What is his main point?
  
  • You need to listen to and imitate me, and not those who think they are so knowledgeable
    
  • In their arrogance, they have gone beyond the word. They have created doctrines that are wrong. In context, it really sounds like the health and wealth gospel, at least given the contrast that Paul is making between his life and theirs
    
    • It sounds like -- "God wants to bless you materially; God wants you to be rich; God wants you be healthy"
      
    • Paul says -- "I am warning you, imitate me"
      
• Paul is sending Timothy to remind them (they already heard it once) of
  
  • Paul's way of life in Christ Jesus
    
  • Teaching that agrees with what has been taught in all the churches (but doesn't seem evident in Corinth any more)
    
• APPLICATION: I wonder if wealth and sexual immorality, which Corinth had as an environment, is a breeding ground for this type of thinking. If so, America should take heed to this message
  

  1 Cor 4:18-21 (NIV) Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
  

• Obviously, the heart of the problem is what?
  
  • Arrogant teachers who have a different wisdom than Paul, some great hidden secret, that they are teaching others, and they believe is better teaching than Paul's teaching
    
  • Paul promises, Lord willing, to come and confront the teaching and the teachers
    
• What is Paul suggesting to them?
  
  • They should confront it themselves, rather than wait for Paul to come for an unpleasant visit
    

  Keener, Craig S. 1—2 Corinthians. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2005.

1 Cor 1:1-3:23

• Roman colony; capital of Achaia province; commercial center; reputation for sexual vice (to act like a Corinthian means to commit fornication); most licentious city in the empire
  
• Paul spent 18 months there, AD 51-52, as part of his second missionary journey
  
  • When he left he took Priscilla and Aquila with him to Ephesus
    
  • On his third missionary journey, he made it a base of operations for three years, AD 53-56
    
• Potential order of events
  
  • Paul's founding visit
    
  • His "former letter"
    
  • The Corinthians letter to him
    
  • First Corinthians
    
  • Paul's "painful visit"
    
  • His "severe letter"
    
  • Second Corinthians
    
  • Paul's anticipated visit
    

  1 Cor 1:1 (NIV) Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
  

  Acts 18:12-17 (NIV) While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. 13 "This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law."
  

  14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law — settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things." 16 So he had them ejected from the court. 17 Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.
  

• We don't know for sure if this is the same Sosthenes, but it would seem to be a major coincidence
  
• It is easy to mistake who God will bring into the kingdom
  
  • Here is the synagogue ruler
    
  • A very devout Jew
    
  • Very upset about Paul's teaching
    
  • Apparently was the leader of the attack on Paul
    
  • And yet, he is the one who receives grace
    

  1 Cor 1:4-7 (NIV) I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way — in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
  

• What do we learn about this church?
  
  • They have all the spiritual gifts
    
  • They have been enriched in every way (speaking and knowledge)
    
  • And yet, this is a church with serious problems and issues
    
  • And also, having strong charismatic elements does not appear to make them any more godly of a church. On the other hand, stoic churches are not any better
    

  1 Cor 1:10-13 (NIV) I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."
  

  13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
  

  1 Cor 1:20-31 (NIV) Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
  

  26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
  

• What is the first problem addressed?
  
  • Pride by association (or pedigree)
    
• Why is that important?
  
  • Possibly more spirituality
    
• How might have Paul ranked in a list of Peter and Apollos?
  
  • Apollos was a very gifted person and knowledgeable person
    
  • Peter was a legend
    
  • The ramifications of Paul's work would not be known for years
    
• But the real answer to this problem of pride by pedigree is addressed in the verses that follows. Why does Paul discuss what he does, …, ie, what is the point?
  
  • By associating with someone famous in our conversion, we have missed the whole point
    
  • God wasn't calling the famous or trying to create rock stars
    
  • God's plan is to use the simple to shame the wise, to use the weak to shame the strong
    
  • When we boast about our spiritual heritage, we tear down the very thing that God is trying to do
    

  1 Cor 2:1-16 (NIV) When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
  

  6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:
  

  "No eye has seen,
  

  no ear has heard,
  

  no mind has conceived
  

  what God has prepared for those who love him"—
  

  10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
  

  The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
  

  16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord
  

  that he may instruct him?"
  

  But we have the mind of Christ.
  

• First of all, in sharing our faith, what is required?
  
  • The simple gospel message
    
• Paul does not advocate Gnosticism, in verses 6-10, but something quite different. What is he saying?
  
  • There is a wisdom of God, that is not understood by either unbelievers or by the immature
    
  • God teaches truth and wisdom to those who love him and pursue him
    
  • Some people never mature in their Christian walk, because they never get to that next level. They are content with their immaturity in the faith
    
    • Luke 19:26 (NIV) "He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.
      
• What is the key to understanding the truths of God?
  
  • The Spirit of God
    
• How does the man without the Spirit of God respond to truth?
  
  • He does not accept
    
  • They are foolishness
    
  • He cannot understand them
    
• Paul is not finished with his argument …
  

  1 Cor 3:1-9 (NIV) Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly — mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?
  

  5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe — as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
  

• So, what has Paul been addressing this whole time?
  
  • Spiritual immaturity as evidenced by jealous, quarreling, and worldly actions
    
• Consequently, what is the primary need of the Corinthians?
  
  • Spiritual maturity
    
• Based on this passage, how does one evaluate success? For a church or a Pastor, how does one evaluate success -- and what is the wrong way to evaluate success? Let's start with the wrong way?
  
  • Wrong way
    
    • Numbers or buildings
      
    • If Paul planted and Apollos watered, whose ministry resulted in their large church? Neither, because God made it grow
      
    • So if it doesn't grow, who is at fault? The respondents and God
      
  • Right way
    
    • Labor -- each one will be rewarded according to his own labor
      
• APPLICATION: The measurement of our success is the effort and obedience we put into the work, not the results of the work. The results are God's business, not mine
  

  1 Cor 3:10-15 (NIV) By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
  

• But it is not just my work or effort, is it? What else is required?
  
  • God expects us to be expert builders
    
  • God expects us to be careful how we build
    
  • God expects us to use good material
    
  • Finally, God will test the quality of each man's work
    
• So, the measure of success is the quality of my labor that I put into God's work, not the results. The results is God's business, not mine

Lev 25:1-27:34

• Review of the Feasts of the Lord (source: Constable, Leviticus, 2010). Interpretation (www.ariel.org/feasts.html, as of 29 May 2010)
  

  
  

• NT Context
  
  • Passover -- Jesus' death on the cross as the lamb of God
    
  • Unleavened Bread -- the application of the blood to the NT saints (removal of sin stain)
    
  • First Fruits -- Jesus' ascension into heaven as the first fruits of those who fall asleep
    
  • Pentecost -- The giving of the Holy Spirit upon the believers; writing the law on the hearts of believers
    
  • Trumpets -- rapture of the saints
    
  • Atonement -- Jesus' second coming, his judgment, and the redemption of Israel
    
  • Tabernacles (or Ingathering) -- The wedding Feast
    

  Lev 26:3-12 (NIV) "'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.
  

  6 "'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
  

  9 "'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. 11 I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.
  

• Very similar to a legal treaties during that time. Also seen in Exodus 23:25-33, Deuteronomy 28:1-68, and Joshua 24:20. Exodus 23 concerned the conquest of Canaan; Leviticus 26-27 concern the time after the land is conquered
  
• A key component of the OT law is the conditionality aspect, seen in verse 3. What is the conditional statement exactly and does it require perfection?
  
  • "If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands ..."
    
  • What is the difference between the two conditions?
    
    • The word careful seems to suggest that one does not have to be perfect, and in fact there a decrees to follow when you fail. So you follow the decrees, but be careful to obey the commands
      
• What are the results of following the decrees and obeying the law (remember: to the person under the OT Law)?
  
  • Rain, crops, fruit, long harvests, food (sustenance)
    
  • Safety, peace, no fear (individual safety)
    
  • Removal of wild animals, no armies marching through, victory in battle (national safety)
    
  • Increase in population, abundance (growth and material blessing)
    
  • God's presence, God's approval (spiritual blessing). Verse 11, "dwelling" is where we get the word "shekinah"
    
• Is any part of the new covenant conditional?
  
  • The word "if" is used in arguments and a number of contexts, but few relating to a person's walk and the consequences of failure. Here are a few that I found:
    

    1 Cor 3:12-17 (NIV) If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. //16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
    

    Gal 6:9 (NIV) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
    

    1 Tim 4:15-16 (NIV) Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
    

    2 Tim 2:11-13 (NIV) Here is a trustworthy saying: // If we died with him, // we will also live with him; // 12 if we endure, // we will also reign with him. // If we disown him, // he will also disown us; // 13 if we are faithless, // he will remain faithful, // for he cannot disown himself.
    

    2 Tim 2:20-21 (NIV) In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
    

    2 Peter 1:8-10 (NIV) if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. // 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,
    

• APPLICATION: I cannot find any NT verse that offers material blessings like the OT law. I do believe, even from these that there are spiritual blessings to those who serve God well
  

  Lev 26:14-35 (NIV) "'But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.
  

  18 "'If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. 19 I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of the land yield their fruit.
  

  21 "'If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve. 22 I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted.
  

  23 "'If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction but continue to be hostile toward me, 24 I myself will be hostile toward you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over. 25 And I will bring the sword upon you to avenge the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be given into enemy hands. 26 When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not be satisfied.
  

  27 "'If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, 28 then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over. 29 You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters. 30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you. 31 I will turn your cities into ruins and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will take no delight in the pleasing aroma of your offerings. 32 I will lay waste the land, so that your enemies who live there will be appalled. 33 I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins. 34 Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not have during the sabbaths you lived in it.
  

• So the conditions of failure are spelled out how?
  
  • Will not listen (inward rejection and stubborn)
    
  • (will not) carry out (stubborn)
    
  • Reject my decrees (outward)
    
  • Abhor my laws (heart attitude that affects outward actions)
    
  • Fail to carry out my laws (ultimately, disobedience)
    
• Moses revealed five levels or waves of punishment (Constable, 2009)
  
  • 26:14-17 The "terror" spoken of (v. 16) is probably a description of the Israelites' general feeling in response to the particular calamities that follow. These punishments were disease, lack of agricultural fruitfulness, and defeat by their enemies.
    
  • 26:18-20 The second stage of barren land might follow (one curse; cf. 1 Kings 17:1).
    
  • 26:21-22 The third stage would be divine extermination of their cattle and children (two curses).
    
  • 26:23-26 The fourth stage would be war, plagues, and famine (three curses).
    
  • 26:27-33 The fifth stage would be the destruction of the Israelites' families, idolatrous practices and places, land, and nation through dispersion (four curses).
    
  • In her history in the land Israel experienced all of these curses because she eventually despised the Mosaic Law. The record of this failure is not consistent. There were periods of revival and consequent blessing. Nevertheless the general course of the nation proceeded downward.
    
  • 26:34-39 The length of the Babylonian captivity was 70 years because the Israelites failed to observe 70 sabbatical years in the land (2 Chron. 36:21; cf. Jer. 29:10).
    
• These are particular aspects that are unique to Israel under the law
  
• Does the new covenant have any warnings?
  
  • 1 Cor 16:22 (NIV) If anyone does not love the Lord — a curse be on him. Come, O Lord!
    
  • 1 Cor 4:14-16 (NIV) I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
    
  • Gal 5:19-21 (NIV) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
    
  • 1 Thess 5:14 (NIV) And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
    
  • 2 Thess 3:14-15 (NIV) If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
    
  • 2 Tim 2:14 (NIV) Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
    
  • Titus 3:10-11 (NIV) Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
    
  • APPLICATION: A believer, who does not live rightly or is divisive, is to be treated unwelcome. And there is also a loss of reward in heaven (previous Corinthian passage)

Lev 17:1-22:33 (24:23)

Lev 17:1-7 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, 2 "Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: 'This is what the Lord has commanded: 3 Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it 4 instead of bringing it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord — that man shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; he has shed blood and must be cut off from his people. 5 This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices they are now making in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the Lord, at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship offerings. 6 The priest is to sprinkle the blood against the altar of the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 7 They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.'

• There are two issues addressed here, what are they?
  
  • Verse 7: prostituting (spiritually) themselves to goat idols
    
  • Exclusivity of private worship
    
• A lot of people avoid church and say that they prefer to worship in private. Is that right or wrong?
  
  • It is wrong when it becomes exclusive or is used as an excuse to avoid public worship
    
  • This is an OT law, but not OT teaching only …
    
  • Heb 10:19-25 (NIV) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
    
    • What is the context of Hebrews passage?
      
      • Worship -- "let us draw near to God ..."
        
      • Faith -- "let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess ..."
        
      • Service -- "let us consider how we may spur on …"
        
      • Fellowship -- "let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing …"
        
• So instead of private sacrifices of freewill offerings in the field or at home, what is the instruction?
  
  • To bring it to the priest
    
  • To make it into a "fellowship offering." God (symbolically), the priest, and the worshipper all share and partake of the fellowship offering
    
• APPLICATION: God considers fellowship very important. God is not impressed by the excuse of "private worship" to avoid fellowship
  

  An interesting point is that chapters 17-27 concern private worship, or individual holiness, but the very first few verses discuss private worship in a negative manner.
  

  Chapter 18 details the marriage relationship. Incest, adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, and the sacrifice of your offspring are specifically described and commanded against.
  

  Lev 18:24-28 (NIV) "'Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. 25 Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. 26 But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the aliens living among you must not do any of these detestable things, 27 for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. 28 And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.
  

• First of all, these practices are not new practices
  
• What was the result in the past and what is the promise for Israel in the future if they engage in these sins?
  
  • The people were vomited out of the land (pre-law)
    
  • The Israelites will be vomited out as well, just as the previous owners were
    
  • Rom 8:20-22 (NIV) For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. // 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
    
    • Why is the creation groaning? Sin brought about decay and pain
      
• APPLICATION: While these are OT law commands, they existed previously and from Romans exist today as well. What can we learn from this passage?
  
  • God will hold us accountable for our sexual sins
    

  Lev 19:16-18 (NIV) "'Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
  

  "'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the Lord.
  

  17 "'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
  

  18 "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
  

• We read these verses, because in context, this is the verse Jesus uses to answer the question of what is the greatest command. The first is to love God with your whole being, but the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. Why is this so important to God?
  
  • First, relationships are important to God
    
  • Relationships are part and parcel to life
    
  • Selfishness, narcissism are antithetical to this way of thinking. Sin destroys relationships
    
• Also, loving your neighbor doesn't mean you always say "nice" things to him
  
  • You may have to rebuke your neighbor
    
  • Rebuke is better than holding a grudge
    
• APPLICATION: Finally, there are three things eternal in life -- God, his word, and people. If we are to live for eternal things, we will give ourselves to knowing God, following his word, and serving people
  

  Lev 22:1-3 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, 2 "Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings the Israelites consecrate to me, so they will not profane my holy name. I am the Lord.
  

  3 "Say to them: 'For the generations to come, if any of your descendants is ceremonially unclean and yet comes near the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the Lord, that person must be cut off from my presence. I am the Lord.
  

• The priests have additional restrictions and rules places on them. Chapter 22 details many of them. Why are the priests and their families singled out?
  
  • Spiritual leaders have the additional responsibility of being an example to those around them
    
• In the new covenant, who are the priests?
  
  • We all are. 1 Peter says that we are a kingdom of priests
    
• The NT does not have many special rules for elders. It does have special qualifications for selection but few rules upon selection. I really only found three rules
  
  • Shepherd the flock willingly (not as a sense of duty or grudgingly)
    
  • Do not be greedy for money, but eager to serve
    
  • Do not lord it over, but be examples to the flock
    

  Lev 24:13-17 (NIV) Then the Lord said to Moses: 14 "Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him. 15 Say to the Israelites: 'If anyone curses his God, he will be held responsible; 16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.
  

  17 "'If anyone takes the life of a human being, he must be put to death.
  

• This is an interesting combination of verses. The people want to know what to do with someone who blasphemed God's name. God tells them, he is to put to death. Then God describes what happens to any man who kills another man. What is the distinction?
  
  • Capital punishment is not murder but judgement
    
  • Murder is different than killing someone for a crime (or in war or in self-defense)
    
  • People have a philosophical problem. God sees the events at two distinctly different things. The fact that they are placed back to back highlights that distinction

Lev 1:1-16:34

• The Hebrew title for the book is taken from vs 1.1, wayyiqra', translated "And He called." The "and" is a conjunction showing that Leviticus follows from Exodus (Constable, Leviticus, p. 1, 2009)
  
• The English title comes for the Latin, Liver Leviticus. The Latin coming from the Greek title, Leuitikon, meaning "relating to the Levites" (Ibid)
  
  • It would be wrong, however, to describe Leviticus simply as a manual for
    

    priests. It is equally, if not more, concerned with the part the laity should
    

    play in worship (Wenham, Leviticus, p. 3)
    

• Historically the book fits within the one month between God's occupation of the tabernacle (Exod. 40:17, 34-38) and the taking of the census at Sinai (Num. 1:1-3) (Constable, p. 2)
  
• ". . . the Levitical rituals are still of immense relevance. It was in terms of these sacrifices that Jesus himself and the early church understood his atoning death. Leviticus provided the theological models for their understanding. If we wish to walk in our Lord's steps and think his thoughts after him, we must attempt to understand the sacrificial system of Leviticus. It was established by the same God who sent his Son to die for us; and in rediscovering the principles of OT worship written there, we may learn something of the way we should approach a holy God." (Wenham, p. 37)
  
• Outline (Constable, pp. 5-6)
  
  • Public Worship, 1-16
    
    • The laws of sacrifice, 1-7
      
    • The institution of the Aaronic priesthood, 8-10
      
    • Laws relating to ritual cleanliness, 11-15
      
    • The Day of Atonement, 16
      
  • Private Worship, 17-27
    
    • Holiness of conduct on the Israelite's part, 17-20
      
    • Holiness of the priests, gifts, and sacrifices, 21-22
      
    • Sanctification of the Sabbath and the feast of Yahweh, 23
      
    • The preparation of the holy lamps and showbreat, 24:1-9
      
    • The punishment of the blasphemer, 24:10-23
      
    • Sanctification of the possession of land by the sabbatical and jubilee years, 25
      
    • Promises and warnings, 26
      
    • Directions concerning vows, 27
      

  Lev 1:3-9 (NIV) "'If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord. 4 He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. 5 He is to slaughter the young bull before the Lord, and then Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 6 He is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. 7 The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 Then Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood that is on the altar. 9 He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
  

  Lev 2:1-3 (NIV) When someone brings a grain offering to the Lord, his offering is to be of fine flour. He is to pour oil on it, put incense on it 2 and take it to Aaron's sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the fine flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 3 The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings made to the Lord by fire.
  

• Typically we see that an offering involved three objects
  
  • The offerer
    
  • The offering
    
  • The mediator
    
• We also see differences between the offerings
  
  • Each offering is different from other offerings in terms of the different options of what the offerer could present, how he could present them, and what to do with the all the parts of the offering
    
• What principles of worship do we see in this passage?
  
  • The offering is of your best
    
  • The offerer has responsibilities and work involved in presenting the offering
    
  • The priest has responsibilities, but also assists the offerer
    
  • The priest benefits
    

  Lev 2:11-13 (NIV) "'Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast, for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in an offering made to the Lord by fire. 12 You may bring them to the Lord as an offering of the firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma. 13 Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.
  

• What are some additional lessons or pictures of worship that we see here?
  
  • Can't use yeast. Yeast symbolizes sin
    
  • Have to add salt. Salt symbolizes life and preservation
    
  • Jesus calls us the salt of the world. Are we representing life to the world around us? Are we preserving people from sin or participating in such a way as to obscure life from those who need it? Really the question is, how different are we and is it an attractive difference?
    
• Constable, pp. 9-15
  

Chapter		1		2	3
Type		Burnt offerings (most common)		Meal offerings	Peace offering
Thoughts		Soothing aroma (all three)
Distinctive		Purpose was acceptance Offerer gave up life Animal perished completely (except skin)		Offering the fruit of human labor (more so than animals) Bread given to priests and portion (flour) put on altar	All participants fed together (offerer, priest, and God (symbolically))
Variations		Higher the responsibility, the more expensive the animal Butchering varied Washed internals			Several grades of animals including females Multiple reasons for the gift

Lev 4:1-2 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, 2 "Say to the Israelites: 'When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands —

Lev 4:13 (NIV) "'If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, they are guilty.

Lev 4:22 (NIV) "'When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the Lord his God, he is guilty.

Lev 5:1 (NIV) "'If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible.

• The sin offering seems to break into two different groups or classes of sins, what do you see?
  
  • Unintentional sins
    
  • Sins of omission
    
• Also, there are some differences among the unintentional sins
  
  • Three groups: individual, the community, and the leader
    
  • APPLICATION: I think we need to confess, not only our sins, but our community sins. Those are probably best done in a group gathering, because the intent is for the community to recognize them, but I don't think it hurts to confess them privately as well
    
  • Flour is allowed for the poor as an offering
    
• Next follows the trespass offering (5:14-6:7) (Constable, pp. 20-21)
  
  • Sins against anything dedicated to God (tabernacle, furnishings, offerings, house, and land)
    
  • Sins against sacred property
    
  • Sins against swearing falsely
    
  • Additionally, reparation or restitution is required
    
• Next we go back through the offerings and provide additional regulations, to include rules for the priests on what they could and couldn't eat
  
• Chapters 8 through 10 concern the institution of the Aaronic priesthood. The genre switches from legal to narrative material
  

  Lev 9:23-10:3 (NIV) Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 24 Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.
  

  10 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:
  

  "'Among those who approach me // I will show myself holy; // in the sight of all the people // I will be honored.'"
  

  Aaron remained silent.
  

• When you think about Aaron, what comes to mind?
  
  • The golden calf incident -- a very serious event that affected God's relationship with Israel
    
  • Yet, Aaron is forgiven. He is the high priest. He takes it very seriously and follows, to the letter, the commands of God
    
• Nadab and Abihu also do something quite wrong-- why the difference in the response?
  
  • One, we don't know any details about their life up until this point
    
  • Two, they are already consecrated as priests and taught the commands
    
  • Three, God establishes his Holiness very clearly to the people and to the priests and Levites
    
  • Fourth, God is never unjust in taking from us, life, what he gave originally. And if they truly believed in God, then their death is merely a step into another existence
    

  Lev 10:4-11 (NIV) Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron's uncle Uzziel, and said to them, "Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary." 5 So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.
  

  6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "Do not let your hair become unkempt, and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the Lord will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the house of Israel, may mourn for those the Lord has destroyed by fire. 7 Do not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting or you will die, because the Lord's anointing oil is on you." So they did as Moses said.
  

  8 Then the Lord said to Aaron, 9 "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses."
  

• From this passage, what is God teaching (or Moses) Aaron?
  
  • I thought the key verses is verse 10, to distinguish between the holy and the common
    
• How is the holy different from the common?
  
  • It takes my best
    
  • It requires sacrifice
    
  • It requires obedience
    
  • It should set me apart from the world
    
• My only question is, since the NT calls us a kingdom of Priests, is, what is not holy? Is there anything that is common?
  

  Lev 10:16-20 (NIV) When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's remaining sons, and asked, 17 "Why didn't you eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the community by making atonement for them before the Lord. 18 Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place, you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded."
  

  19 Aaron replied to Moses, "Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the Lord have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?" 20 When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.
  

• Eleazar and Ithamar also "mess up." Why is their actions treated differently from their brothers?
  
  • They had the right motive
    
  • Suggests that the motives of their brothers was not correct

Class Notes, Ex 35:1-40:38

Ex 35:4-5, 10 (NIV) Moses said to the whole Israelite community, "This is what the Lord has commanded: 5 From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; …

10 "All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded:

• There are two key aspects of ministry mentioned here
  
  • Willing offerings. This is not the tithe (the tithe is a required offering of the OT law). This is much closer to the NT concept of giving
    
    • 2 Cor 9:6-7 (NIV) Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
      
    • Gal 6:7-10 (NIV) Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
      
    • True ministry is a heartfelt action, and one of the spirit -- not of rule or law
      
  • Skilled and gifted people serving
    
    • 1 Cor 12:7 (NIV) Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
      
    • Each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit
      
    • The gift is not for the individual, but for the common good
      

  Ex 35:20-29 (NIV) Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses' presence, 21 and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. 22 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. 23 Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or hides of sea cows brought them. 24 Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. 25 Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun — blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. 26 And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. 27 The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. 29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.
  

• What are the key words in this passage, and what is God trying to communicate?
  
  • Willing -- chose to give
    
  • Heart -- response of the heart not based on rule
    
  • To the Lord -- it was given to God not to people
    
  • Many different and unique types of gifts were given. Some created their own gifts (those who spun), others gave from what they owned
    
• Why do some people prefer living to a rule, like 10 percent (which is really not 10 percent but much higher), than a heart response?
  
  • We want to feel we have met our obligation
    
  • It is easier the more you have to give 10 percent. As God gives more, while 10 percent represents a larger amount, it represents less than what is needed when you had less
    
• APPLICATION: Why do we give? Do we give grudgingly? We are no longer under the law?
  

  Ex 35:30-36:5 (NIV) Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts — 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers — all of them master craftsmen and designers.36 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded."
  

  2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work 5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done."
  

• What do you note about the skilled men that is different from the offering, and also what is the same?
  
  • Same: Both are willing (36:2)
    
  • Same/Different: God had given the ability
    
  • Different: God has chosen
    
• APPLICATION: What has God chosen you to do? What are you doing for the body of Christ, the common good?
  

  Ex 36:6-7 (NIV) Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.
  

• What is the principle from this passage?
  
  • When God's people are obedient, there is no need to ask for more giving, or to run any giving promotions -- the real problem is telling people to stop giving
    
• APPLICATION: I will be honest. I did not pledge any amount for the church debt repayment. I am always pushing my giving to support more and more missionaries. Consequently, I just don't have any more money for long-term things. I can find money for short term things at times, but I've already committed resources to long term things. I'm not saying I am right and everyone else is wrong, but the question that goes through my mind is, if I have more money to give long-term, why haven't I already committed it to something?
  

  Ex 38:1 (NIV) They built the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, three cubits high; it was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.
  

  Ex 38:9 (NIV) Next they made the courtyard. The south side was a hundred cubits long and had curtains of finely twisted linen,
  

  Ex 38:21-23 (NIV) These are the amounts of the materials used for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, which were recorded at Moses' command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 22 (Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything the Lord commanded Moses; 23 with him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan — a craftsman and designer, and an embroiderer in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen.)
  

  Ex 38:24-26 (NIV) The total amount of the gold from the wave offering used for all the work on the sanctuary was 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. 25 The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the census was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel — 26 one beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone who had crossed over to those counted, twenty years old or more, a total of 603,550 men
  

  Ex 39:42-43 (NIV) The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 43 Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.
  

• The bible says that we walk by faith and not by sight, but that doesn't mean you don't use your brain. What are some of the specific things that these leaders did in the building process?
  
  • They used plans, specific measurements
    
  • There was order -- "next," verse 38:9
    
  • There was leadership and direction, "Ithimar"
    
  • There was accounting
    
  • There was inspection, and the inspector was not the leader
    

  Ex 39:7 (NIV) Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses. ...
  

  Ex 39:21 (NIV) They tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband so that the breastpiece would not swing out from the ephod — as the Lord commanded Moses.
  

  Ex 40:17 (NIV) So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year.
  

  Ex 40:36-38 (NIV) In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out — until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.
  

• Phrase, "as the Lord commanded" occurs 8 times in Exodus 39. Phrase occurs 33 times in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers
  
• The result was (39:43) blessing, success, timely completion, and further leading
  
• APPLICATION: Sometimes we won't get the next step, until we have completed what God has commanded
  

Ex 32:1-34:35

Ex 32:1-6 (NIV) When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."

2 Aaron answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me." 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."

5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord." 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.

• Let's start with a Aaron's action. Let's start with some positive reasons for his decision, can you think of any? Then, we will discuss negative reasons?
  
  • Positive: maybe Moses was gone (low view of God's sovereignty)
    
  • Mostly negative: Aaron did not create a new god, but rather an idol to represent God (used plural, which might be okay since Hebrew word is plural, but also forgot previous command from God)
    
  • Negative: people pleaser
    
  • Did not stand up for what is right
    
  • Tried to keep the people busy to stall for time
    
• Let's look at it from the people's point of view. What were they thinking?
  
  • Is Moses ever going to return? We need to move on (this is a typical battle most of us deal with God regarding decisions)
    
  • Wanted something tangible to put their faith in -- Jesus tells Thomas and others that those who followed are blessed because they believed without seeing
    
  • They too disobey the previous instruction of God, given before Moses went up the mountain, to not make any graven image
    
• This is not just an incident in the life of Israel. This is a major event. Some of the story in Exodus has parallels to the creation story in Genesis
  
  • The people's sin is the equivalent of Adam's disobedience
    
  • This sin has tremendous repercussions
    
  • When we recognize this fact, we see why Idolatry is such an important issue. APPLICATION: while we don't make graven images, I think we too worship objects of wood, stone, and metal. The worship of anything other than God is a path toward greater sin
    
• Why does the sacrifice to the calf turn into revelry?
  
  • Because sin leads to further sin. That is the whole argument of Romans 1 -- God gives people over to sin when they continually disobey Him
    

  Ex 32:7-14 (NIV) Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'
  

  9 "I have seen these people," the Lord said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."
  

  11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. "O Lord," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'" 14 Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
  

• On a humorous note, no one wants to lay claim to being the one who brought the people out of Egypt
  
  • The people say Moses
    
  • Aaron says it is the calf
    
  • God says Moses
    
  • Moses say God
    
• The immediate verses are God's response to the people's sin. How does God respond to the sin?
  
  • God is angry
    
  • God is ready to destroy the people
    
  • God says that he will build a new nation from Moses
    
• The word "relented" is difficult to understand. There are two ways to view it
  
  • One, God changes his mind. That violates scripture and the very definition of God himself
    
  • Second, this is the best word to describe the appearance of events
    
    • Moses intercedes for the people
      
    • Moses argues on the basis of God's promise and covenant
      
• I'm sure God knew his covenant and his promise. God also was angry at the sin. Whatever God was going to do, he allowed Moses to intervene through prayer. Therefore, one possibility is ...
  
  • God wanted to teach Moses to intervene for the people in prayer
    
  • God wanted to teach Moses how much he hated sin
    
  • God was creating important leadership skills in Moses that will be essential for the next forty years
    

  Ex 32:15-29 (NIV) Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. 16 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
  

  17 When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, "There is the sound of war in the camp."
  

  18 Moses replied:
  

  "It is not the sound of victory,
  

  it is not the sound of defeat;
  

  it is the sound of singing that I hear."
  

  19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 20 And he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.
  

  21 He said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?"
  

  22 "Do not be angry, my lord," Aaron answered. "You know how prone these people are to evil. 23 They said to me, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.' 24 So I told them, 'Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.' Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!"
  

  25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the Lord, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him.
  

  27 Then he said to them, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.'" 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. 29 Then Moses said, "You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day."
  

• We see that the tablets that will be placed in the ark are not the original version
  
• What do you think of Aaron's response to Moses?
  
  • It lacked courage
    
  • He did not stand up for what was right
    
  • He tried to placate or please the people
    
• The scripture says that the people were running wild, and out of control. The Levites stand with Moses and kill 3,000 of their own people. Why kill the people, that seems harsh?
  
  • I don't know
    
  • Maybe it was the seriousness of the sin
    
  • Maybe these people would continue to be a trap to lead others into temptation and sin
    
  • APPLICATION: The Levites, in contrast to Aaron (also a Levite), we clearly not people pleasers, and were willing to do what was required for the sake of holiness
    

  Ex 33:1-7 (NIV) Then the Lord said to Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way."
  

  4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.'" 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.
  

  7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.
  

• The golden calf incident is called a great sin (verse 30), and it has consequences
  
  • One of the consequences is that 3000 die
    
  • Another consequence is a plague strikes the people (verse 35)
    
  • What are some other consequences?
    
    • God says he will not travel with the people (although as a result of Moses' prayer later, his presence does go with them)
      
    • The tent of meeting is moved far outside of the camp (this is different from the tabernacle)
      
    • The gold ornaments, that some had used to make idols, are removed from the people
      
• There are other effects. Note the parallelisms (Constable, 2009)
  

THE GIVING OF THE COVENANT (EXOD. 20—31)	THE RESTORING OF THE COVENANT (EXOD. 33—34)
All the people were to be priests (19:5-6).	Only the Levites would be priests (32:29).
Moses ascended Mt. Sinai and God spoke with him there while the people waited below (19:20).	Moses ascended Mt. Sinai and God spoke with him there while the people waited below (32:31).
God sent His angel to destroy Israel's enemies (23:23).	God sent His angel lest He destroy Israel (33:2-5).
The tabernacle in the center of the camp was to be the "tent of meeting" where God would meet with the people (25:8; 27:21; 28:43; 29:42-43).	Another "tent of meeting" outside the camp was where God met with Moses and Joshua only (33:7).
God displayed His glory for all the people to see on Mt. Sinai (24:16-17).	Only Moses could see God's glory partially (33:18-23), and the people only saw God's glory reflected on Moses' face (34:29).
God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone tablets (Deut. 10:1-4).	Moses wrote the Ten Commandments on stone tablets (34:28).
The structure of the narrative begins and ends with warnings against idolatry (20:22-23; 23:13) and instructions for proper worship (20:24-26; 23:14-19).	The structure of the narrative begins and ends with warnings against idolatry (34:11-17) and instructions for proper worship (34:11-26).

• APPLICATION: Our sin separates us from fellowship with God. It does not terminate it or change our position in Christ, but it creates a barrier between us and God. That is why repentance is so essential for the Christian, to keep the relationship with God free of sin
  

  Ex 33:15-18 (NIV) Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"
  

  17 And the Lord said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."
  

• Verse 5 says that God has not decided what to do with Israel. Why would God need time to decide?
  
  • God was waiting for Moses to intercede
    
• In this section, Moses takes the issue head on. Clearly God could have "decided" what to do with the Israelites (vs 5) in a moment. But God doesn't, possibly because he was waiting for Moses to intervene. What is the lesson?
  
  • There is a lesson for leadership -- good leadership intervenes for the people, and God wants to teach his shepherds to intervene in prayer
    
• APPLICATION: God waits for us to pray. He is looking for partners in ministry. People who will intercede in the lives of others. Why does he do that? I don't know, but I do know he wants us to pray for others, that is one of our roles
  

Class Notes, Ex 25:1-31:18

Ex 25:40 (NIV) See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.

Ex 26:30 (NIV) "Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain.

• The word "pattern" is not used very often in scriptures; it shows up nine times, five referring to the tabernacle
  
• The word "plan," while occurring often (31 times), only seems to reference the tabernacle once
  
• 
  
  Planning is a broad term, while pattern is very specific. Planning assumes that the detail or patterns may differ from one plan to another, even when the plan is the same. But pattern is something that is to be followed specifically. One case, Rom 5:14, refers to Adam as pattern of Jesus who was to come. The three other cases are as follows:
  • Rom 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
    
  • Phil 3:17 (NIV) Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
    
  • 2 Tim 1:13 (NIV) What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
    
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  APPLICATION:
  • So we are not to mimic the world in our thoughts
    
  • We are to mimic those who live as Paul taught
    
  • And, we are to mimic sound teaching, as Paul did
    
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  Beyond that, there is a lot of freedom 
  Ex 28:1-2 (NIV) Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. 2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor.
  
  
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  Why the importance of dignity and honor?
  • The garments give dignity and honor, they do not make the person better, holy, or closer to God
    
  • The garments are required to serve as Priests in the tabernacle
    
  • The garments "cover" the person in a way that God says is acceptable. In that sense, they are holy. But the person is not holy because he wears sacred garments. He has dignity and respect not because he is something special, but because he is called to a special task before God.
    
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  In the new covenant, all believers are priests
  • 1 Peter 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
    
  • So, we are no different from a Priest in the OT.
    
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  APPLICATION: We should give dignity and honor to other believers, especially those who are serving the Lord well. But they are not better, they are just obedient, and an example to all who call themselves by the name of Christ. 
  Ex 28:29-30 (NIV) "Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord. 30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.
  
  
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  Do you see the key concept of leadership expressed in this passage?
  • Spiritual leadership recognizes that decisions always concern people. The decision may be unrelated in fact to people, but stills have a people side to it when considered carefully.
    
  • There are people who make a name for themselves by running roughshod over people. I think that describes myself when I was young. God took me through a lot to realize that there are more important things than deadlines and projects, there are people with real needs.
    
  • Also, Aaron carries the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as well as over the breastpiece of decision. The heart clearly signifying care and love for people.
    
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  APPLICATION: As I continue to walk with God, I need to remember that people are on God's heart, not projects and not money, but people. I need to make sure that my decisions never neglect the people aspect.
  
  Ex 30:30-38 (NIV) "Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. 31 Say to the Israelites, 'This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. 32 Do not pour it on men's bodies and do not make any oil with the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred. 33 Whoever makes perfume like it and whoever puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from his people.'"
  
  34 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Take fragrant spices — gum resin, onycha and galbanum — and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, 35 and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. 36 Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. 37 Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord. 38 Whoever makes any like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from his people."
  
  
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  Why not make copies of the perfume and the incense -- we have the recipe here?
  • It makes it too commonplace
    
  • The smell would not be unique to tabernacle
    
  • People might create their own idols and mini-tabernacles in their homes
    
  • It emphasizes the word "holy" or set-apart. Holy does not always signify sinless, sometimes it communicates sacredness or differentness. Israel was called to be different from the world around them. Their holiness was to identify them as different, and then their lives were to attract people to God
    
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  Leads to a number of APPLICATIONS:
  • Is worship too commonplace?
    
  • We can worship anywhere, but there is something different about gathering together with the body of believers. Do we see it is special?
    
  • Are our lives different from those around us? Could someone, who only knew us for a short period of time, identify us as Christians? Why or why not?
    
  Ex 31:1-5 (NIV) Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts — 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.
  
  
• Some people think that this passage expands our definition of spiritual gifts. Bezalel is filled with the Spirit of God and with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts -- in others words, a gift of craftmanship
  
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  Do you think there can be a spiritual gift of craftmanship?
  • I don't know the answer -- although, I would never want to restrict God in what he can do
    
  • 
    
    All of the passages on spiritual gifts in the New Testament are different. So one thought is that there is no single definition of spiritual gifts, except that it is a spiritual enabling by God
    • In which case, there has to be a difference between before and after conversion
      
  • My final thought is -- whatever God has called you to do, do it with all your heart as serving Him and not man
    
  • I think if we spent less time worrying about what our gift is and more time serving in the kingdom, we would know what God has called us to do
    
  Ex 31:12-17 (NIV) Then the Lord said to Moses, 13 "Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.
  
  14 "'Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. 15 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'"
  
  
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  What does God call the Sabbath?
  • Verse 13: A sign between me and you (the you being the Israelites)
    
  • Verse 17: A sign between me and the Israelites forever
    
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  Is the command to observe the Sabbath repeated in the New Testament?
  • No. In fact, three times Jesus goes out of his way to violate the oral tradition of the Sabbath
    
  • 
    
    Jesus says the Sabbath was created for man
    • People need a day of rest
      
  • Also, the Sabbath is never spoken of as a day of worship, it is always a day of rest
    
• The concept of a day of rest is a good idea. The concept of a day of worship is a good idea too. The early church never mistook the Sabbath for the first day of the week, which is when they worshipped as a remembrance of Jesus rising from the dead
  
• Also, Israelite men, were required to appear for worship at the tabernacle / temple three times a year, not every week
  
• There were no synagogues. Synagogues were created in the captivity when the temple was destroyed and they could not return three times a year for worship
  
• Rest is good; worship is good, but don't burden people by teaching the Sabbath as a command for Scripture. It is a command in the OT law, but we are not under the OT law
  

Bulgarian Update

I have been traveling for 3 weeks in Europe. Some of it is business, some was a missions trip to Bulgaria. I hope to get back to putting up my notes by next week.

I really have enjoyed getting to know the Bulgarian people. They live a hard life. Corruption is rampant. The cities are falling apart. But the people in the church love God. Their worship was infectious and real. I know God is pleased with them. Probably more so than with us Americans, who live in mansions comparatively, and yet do so little with our Christian faith.

Please pray for Bulgaria -- that God's word would continue to spread.