Encouragement in a New Year
1 Kings 19:1-18 Elijah was discouraged because his greatest public success did not appear to change anything. God worked with him by sending an angel and then commissioning him with purpose.
LHIM Weekly Bible Teaching
God of the Weak & Lowly
Luke 2:1-7 The birth of Jesus fulfilled prophecy (Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-5; 42:1-4). Bethlehem was a small village. Nazareth in Galilee was considered an insignificant place (John 1:46; 7:41, 52), but it fulfilled prophecy (Micah 5:2).
Nativity of the Nazarene in Tumultuous Times
Matthew 1:18-19 The birth of Christ begins with a scandal. Mary is found pregnant though she’s betrothed. Joseph decides to divorce her quietly. The law was clear about this situation (Deut 22:13-14, 20-21; 22:23-24).
Matthew 1:20-21 In Hebrew, "Jesus" sounds like the word “salvation.” Jesus will save his people from their sins. Just like the Joseph in the book of Genesis, this Joseph is a dreamer.
Redemption – Who Am I?
Who you were - Romans 3:10-18
What you did - Ephesians 2:1-3, 11, 12 “Nature” is the basic or inherent
features. The nature of a dog is to be friendly with people; the nature of a
lion is very different. The nature of humans is sinful.
Deuteronomy – Choose Life
God did what He could to communicate with Israel to choose life.
Numbers 14:22-23 …put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to
My voice….
1. (Exodus 14:10-12) God parted the sea.
2. (Exodus 15:22-24) God made the water sweet for them.
3. (Exodus 16:1-3) Yahweh provided daily manna for them.
Sacrifices & Thanksgiving
Deuteronomy 12:1-3 Upon entering the promised land, God told Israel to tear down any worship objects they encounter. (See also Deuteronomy 32:16-17, 37-39; 1 Corinthians 10:14-22.)
Deuteronomy 12:4-7 Although some sacrifices atoned for guilt, most of the sacrifices and offerings came from a heart of gratitude and generosity.
Deuteronomy 12:11-12 God wanted the whole family to participate in the sacrificial offerings, including children, servants, and even the local Levite.
Deuteronomy 12:15-19 Sacrifices weren’t to appease God’s wrath or curry favor so He would make the rain fall on time. Rather than manipulation, sacrifices were ways to say thank you to a God who faithfully cared for His people.
Covenant Obedience
Deuteronomy 5:22-29 God first introduced himself to Israel through the ten plagues when He delivered the people from Egypt. Once they arrived at Mount Sinai, God came down in a flurry of fire, thunder, and earthquake. He spoke to them audibly from the midst of the fire atop the mountain. The people responded with a heart eager to listen and obey.
Quartet of the Vulnerable
Deuteronomy 10:17-19 God is just, and He wanted Israel to be just as well. Injustices become possible when dealing with vulnerable people. God claims justice for the fatherless, the widow, and the sojourner.
Deuteronomy 15:1-11 Here we encounter the fourth member of the quartet of the vulnerable—the poor. God designed a debt-forgiveness program as part of the rhythm of Israel’s calendar. Every seven years, they were to cancel all debts. Even when it came close to the year of release, God still wanted His people to care for the poor instead of hardening their hearts against them.
Deuteronomy 24:14-15 Oppressive workplace practices may bolster profit or make it easier for managers, but ancient Israelite workers were protected. God didn’t want powerful employers to mistreat their workers.
Justice for All
Essentially, “justice” refers to giving each person what he or she deserves or, in more traditional terms, giving each person what is due to them. While justice and fairness are closely related terms, and we might use them interchangeably at times, they are certainly distinct to a degree in their meanings.
Deut 16:18-20
Deut 1:9-17
Deut 25:1-3
Justice is not solely all about punishing people who do what is wrong. That is the punitive side of justice. The other side is setting forth and establishing the standard of what is considered “right” behavior.
Deut 19:14-21
Women’s Rights
Deuteronomy 21:10-14 A woman of a village captured in war was particularly vulnerable in the ancient Near East. Tragically, rape and enslavement were the norms. However, God restricted Israelite soldiers from acting immediately, instead providing the woman with a month to mourn and adjust to the new reality. Even then, he could not use her as a slave, but had to marry her, inducting her into his household as a person of status and into the wider covenant community of God’s people. (See also Leviticus 19:18, 34.)
Deuteronomy 21:15-17 In a polygamous marriage, a husband sometimes favored one wife above another. This law offers protection for the unloved wife in the case that she bore the firstborn son in the family.
God’s Chosen People
Deuteronomy 4:13, 23, 31; 5:2-3; 7:2, 9, 12 Covenant people
4:5-9 As they “keep and do,” they become a witness to the world.
4:32-40 Yahweh’s chosen ones were to keep His commandments.
7:1-14 Stay separate from the heathen; eliminate all idols.
9:4-7 Do not forget.
10:14-20 Stay humble, be godly, and love
12:28, 32 You shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.
Understanding Yahweh
Acts 17:16, 23 Paul was provoked by the idols, so he spoke about the unknown God.
Understanding Yahweh
Yahweh reveals Himself to those who want to know Him.
Yahweh makes Himself known primarily, but not exclusively, through the Scriptures. Torah (Pentateuch) is the best place to start.
To understand Yahweh requires knowledge plus first-hand experience.
