Psalm 82

Dear Jennie:

- vs. 1: Apparently God has a congregation. Us?

- vs. 2: Selah. I know it's thought to mean "pause and think about it" but I wonder if the Psalmists ever meant it toward God. Like asking God to pause and think about it?

- vs. 3-4: When we do these things it is considered "true religion" James 1:27

- vs. 5: Are we talking about the wicked here?

- vs. 6-7: "gods" and rulers on the earth will die away just like any other man.

- vs. 8: God possesses all the nations. Even in the midst of the terror attack in Manchester last night. Who ultimately possesses all the nations? The Lord! We can identify with the Psalmist here: judge them God - why are you waiting?

Love!

Psalm 81

Dear Jennie:

Hi! I guess this Psalm is associated with the festival of Booths. Which from Lev. 23 we know was in the 7th month and lasted 7 (or maybe 8?) days. The people built and lived in huts during that time and there were sacrifices and rules about not working. All to commemorate God leading his people out of Egypt and providing for them in the wilderness.

- vs. 1-4: Praises with song and music

- vs. 5-7: A "language they did not know" must be the language of freedom. God relieves their hands from burdens and rescues them from forced labor.

- vs. 8-10: Worship only the Lord!

- vs. 11-14: I feel for the people. Because all their lives (I mean 400 years means NO ONE would have remembered what life was like before Egypt) they've been surrounded by foreign gods and foreign ways. So of course they'd go back to what felt familiar to them, if they didn't think God was going to come through for them. Not an excuse but helps me understand it and convicts me - that I would likely would have done the same.

- vs. 15: Interesting that God said if his people would only listen to him, he would make their enemies pretend obedience to the Lord. This is sort of off topic but it strikes me because I'm sure you've heard the argument for believing in God: well if there is no God then nothing happens at death but if there is God then you go to heaven so you might as well believe in God "in case". As if "pretending" to believe is something God wouldn't notice.

- vs. 16: How God would prosper his people if they would walk in his ways!

Love!

Psalm 80

Dear Jennie:

My notes say Shoshannim means lilies and probably indicates a wedding tune. But this Psalm doesn't really seem like something you'd put to a wedding tune. My notes also say the setting of this Psalm is the northern tribes being taken captive by Assyria. So the choir of Asaph in Jerusalem cry out to God.

- vs. 1-3: Asking God to: listen, lead, stir up his power, save them, restore them, cause his face to shine upon them.

-vs. 5: The people eat and drink tears (as opposed to the mana from heaven when they were saved out of Egypt)

- vs. 8-11: God removed his people from Egypt and caused them to grow all over the promised land.

- vs. 15: The Lord himself planted his people

- vs. 17: My notes say "son of man" here refers to Israel.

- vs. 19: Must be the chorus as we've heard this repeated several times now. We know that Judah didn't go into captivity by the Babylonians until sometime after the northern tribes where taken captive. But eventually Judah was punished too, for the wicked ways of its king and the people following right along.

Love!

Psalm 79

Dear Jennie:

- vs. 1-3: description of the cruelties Babylon inflicted on Jerusalem.

- vs. 5: The anger and the jealousy of God

- vs. 8: Sounds like Asaph (or whoever the author is) is part of the generation that didn't commit the sins against God but are still paying the price.

- vs. 9-10: I think it's a recurring theme in the OT that when God's people cry out for him to rescue them from the consequences of their own iniquity, the argument isn't ever about why they deserve another chance... it's for the sake of His name, for His glory, and that the other nations would see the true living God.

- vs. 12: God may use other nations to bring down judgement on his people, but these nations aren't blameless and God will hold them accountable for the ways they despise the Lord.

- vs. 11-12: Asaph asks God to act on behalf of the his people, his sheep, that they may give him thanks and tell all generations of his praise.

Love!

Psalm 78 part 2

Dear Jennie:

- vs. 41: The NASB says the people "pained" the Holy One of Israel. It strikes me that God can feel pain, obviously Jesus felt pain. But this seems to say God felt emotional pain because of the rebellion of his people. But I wonder if once God establishes his kingdom and we don't feel pain anymore if He will still feel pain?

- vs. 43-50: The plagues upon Egypt: Rivers to blood, flies, frogs, grasshoppers, locust, hailstones, frost, lightning, burning anger: the angel of death against the first born.

- vs. 51: Is this saying that Egyptians are descendants of Ham (one of Noah's sons)

- vs. 58: With their high places: so they're worshiping idols right? I assume the idols of Egypt. It's easy for me to judge the people ... but how often do I turn to some other worldly answer when I feel like God isn't showing up?

- vs. 61: My notes say this refers to the capture of the ark by the Philistines (as in the time of Saul right... ? I feel like we skipped ahead in history quite a bit)

- vs. 68: Must be referring to choosing David as king in place of Saul's descendants.

- vs. 72: I wonder when is history Asaph is writing this Psalm. It seems to indicate maybe David's "failures"haven't quite happened yet?

Love!  

Psalm 78 part 1

Dear Jennie:

Long chapter so I'll split this one up. From our western world mindset of all love and grace and mercy this is a rough one...

- vs. 1-4: I wonder when in history Asaph is instructing the people to tell their children about the Lord? It's interesting that he mentions "dark sayings of old" but then also the praises of the Lord, his strength and his wondrous works.

- vs. 5-7: Even to those not yet born and to their children: warnings to not be like their fathers who were unfaithful to God (I assume given the context of the next verses he's talking about the people who complained in the wilderness and worship idols after God had delivered them from Egypt).

- vs. 12-16: What amazing displays of God's power and presence!

- vs. 17-29: God provides food for his people via these miracles. I guess I didn't remember the people complained about not having food - I'm sure I would too.

- vs. 30-33: Verses like these are why the old testament is a challenge for me. It makes God seem like he somehow can't control his anger and he just lashes out and kills people some times.

- vs. 34-35: I guess this sort of punishment is just what the people needed though to turn back to God.

- vs. 36-37: The people again are unfaithful.

- vs. 38: I guess this sort of answers my issues with vs. 30-33; He often restrained his anger and didn't arouse his wrath but had compassion and forgave them. And didn't destroy his people though he could have (maybe even should have if I'm thinking correctly about the kinds of things they did)

- vs. 39: Describes us all!

to be continued...   :)

Psalm 77

Dear Jennie:

- vs. 1-2: Asaph cries out to God in the day and stretches out his hand to God all night.

- vs. 3-9: I think the summary here is that when Asaph ponders in his mind and soul about God he is questioning Him: Is God rejecting him? Will God not keep him promises? Will God not be gracious? Is He angry and without compassion?

- vs. 10: Do you think this means that God didn't change Asaph's circumstances but He did comfort his grief by reminding him of the history of God's faithfulness?

- vs. 11-15: God's wonders, work, deeds, way, strength and power. This is what Asaph will choose to meditate on (Psalm 19:14). I tend to think of God's wonders and works summed up as 1. Creation 2. Salvation. He is the author of both.

- vs. 16-20: My notes say Asaph is describing the displays of God's power in delivering his people from slavery in Egypt.

Love!

Psalm 76

Dear Jennie:

- Again my notes say this Psalm would have been written by a descendant of Asaph or a choir guild bearing his name

- vs. 1-3: Since this is a song the repetition and poetry make sense. I guess Salem and Zion both mean Jerusalem

- vs. 4-6: Do you think this is describing actual events?

- vs. 7: Thankfully we can claim Jesus blood over us and not have to face the wrath of God

- vs. 9: Interesting that when God arose to judgement he "saves the humble of the earth" ... I would expect it to say he destroys the wicked.

- vs. 10: Any insights here?

- vs. 11: I feel like the only gift I really have to bring is my heart and my empty hands. What else do we really have to offer?

- vs 12: He is king of kings and our prince of peace.

Love!

Psalm 75

Dear Jennie:

- vs. 1: Asaph is giving thanks and declaring that God is near

- vs. 2-3: God speaks: He will judge at His selected time. God firmly sets the earths pillars and yet can melt it down to nothing. (Selah)

- vs. 4-5: Is this still God speaking?

- vs. 6: My notes say that "north" isn't mentioned because Assyrians approach from that direction so no one could look to the north for help anyway, only invasion.

- vs. 7: makes me think of Daniel's time and how the Persians came and overthrew the Babylonian empire.

- vs. 8: Again, in the time of Daniel some king, I forget which one, was throwing a big party and was drinking wine out of the golden cups that really belonged to the temple treasury. And that's when the hand came and wrote on the wall and declared their destruction.

- vs. 9-10: Let us declare the Lord God forever and sing his praises. Do you think "horn" means like the instrument?

Love!

Psalm 74

Dear Jennie:

My notes say that this Psalm is against the backdrop of the Babylonian captivity. And that Asaph lived long before this Psalm was written so it was either written by one of his descendants or by a choir guild that took on his name.

- vs. 1: we know God doesn't reject his people forever but I'm sure it felt like it. Like maybe sometimes we feel like God is rejecting us.

- vs. 2-9: The destruction that God allowed on the land, on the people, and in His dwelling place.

- vs. 10: I think there was eventually a prophet that told the people how long the exile would last?

- vs. 12-17: Mighty acts of the Lord (deeds of deliverance)
- divided the sea by his strength
- broke the heads of the sea monsters (my notes say this and point below are poetic descriptions of God's victory over the Egyptians)
- crushed the heads of Leviathan
- broke open springs and torrents
- dried up streams
- His is the day and the night
- He prepared the light and the sun
- established boundaries on the earth
- made summer and winter

- vs. 18-23: I seem to remember other places in the Psalms or maybe in the OT where God is called upon to remember his own covenant. To rescue his people not because they deserve it but because of his own name and his own promise that he made with them.

Love!

Psalm 73

Dear Jennie:

- vs. 1-3: Asaph is the author and it sounds like he can acknowledged with his head that God is good to the pure in heart but what's tripping him up is the evidence he sees with his eyes that actually the wicked prosper.

- vs. 4-16: The wicked:
     - wear pride as a necklace
    - the garment of violence covers them
    - the imaginations of their heart run riot
     - they mock oppression
     - they set their mouths against heaven
    - they don't think God knows or sees

Yet Asaph perceives that they prosper, they have no pain, they increase in wealth, they are fat. Meanwhile Asaph is keeping himself pure, and it's hard, he is continually disciplined ... so is it all in vain?

- vs. 17: The turning point: Asaph realizes the truth when he came into the sanctuary of God. What in our lives do we need to go to the sanctuary of God and find truth?

- The wicked will:
    - be set in slippery places
    - be cast down to destruction
    - be destroyed in a moment
    - be utterly swept away by sudden terrors
    - be despised by God
    - perish
   
- vs. 21-24: I like the imagery here: Asaph embittered by the apparent prospering of the wicked but that was senseless and ignorant. Yet God took hold of his hand and guided him gently to the truth. Like a good Father.

- vs. 25: Do you think when Asaph says: who have I in heaven but you? That he means God is the most important to him, not that there literally isn't anyone else in heaven?

- vs. 28: Asaph's last line is to tell of all God's works

- I struggle a little bit here with "wicked". I mean don't we all want to be good? Is there anyone that is truly wicked? Ok maybe Hitler and child molesters and people who sell other human beings as slaves but aren't even they not beyond the reach of grace?

Love!
Stephanie

Romans Chapter 16

Jennie:

- vs 1-16: I don't recognize many names, but I love that men and women are mentioned. Do you think vs. 13 Paul really means that Rufus's mother is his mother? (So Rufus and Paul are brothers)

- vs 17-19: Paul is ending his letter with a warning, that the church in Rome should keep their eyes on anyone causing divisions and teaching anything contrary to the gospel. Paul calls them slaves to their own appetites. It'd be neat to do a more in depth study of what it means to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

- vs 20: it's funny to me that "peace" and "crush" are used in the same sentence. But that's exactly right, God is the God of peace but he will also crush the enemy underneath our feet.

- vs. 22: Tertius must have been penning the letter for Paul (go personal assistants!)  :)

- vs 25: Paul gets a reputation for being a bit arrogant, probably for reasons like this verse when he says "my gospel" ... why would he call it that? The revelation of the mystery is Jesus Christ! I think it's called a mystery because while the prophets of old declared a savior would come, no one knew exactly what it would look like until he came. Kind of like the revelation we have of the end times, we can't see it clearly because it's yet to come.

Love!

Romans Chapter 15

Jennie:

- vs 4 stands out to me because we've been reading through 1 Chronicles which presents quite a challenge given the heavy genealogy. But Romans 15:4 tells us that whatever was written in earlier times was written for our:
instruction
perseverance
encouragement
hope

Otherwise, I made lists of what the Romans (we) were to do, and what we learn about God/Christ:

What we are to do:
- Bear the weaknesses of those without strength
- edify our neighbor
- be one in the same mind with one another
- with one accord and one voice glorify God
- accept one another
- glorify God for his mercy
- Praise the Lord
- abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit
- be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles
- strive together in prayer for our missionaries and ministers


What we learn about God/Jesus:
- Christ didn't please himself
- God gives perseverance and encouragement
- God is the father of our Lord Jesus Christ
- Christ accepted us to the glory of God
- God of hope
- God of peace

- We know Paul did eventually make it to Rome but it was as a prisoner, after his arrest in Jerusalem.

Love!

Romans Chapter 14

Hi Jennie!

This chapter is super loaded, kind of like a gun and I feel like I'm gonna hurt myself or someone else. I'll try to stick to the truth of the text by making lists

- vs. 1-9:
The person who eats meat (and is a believer):
- accept the weak in faith
- don't pass judgement on the weak in faith's opinions
- has faith that they can eat all things
- God has accepted him
- servants of God
- the Lord is able to make him stand

The person who eats only vegetables (and is a believer):
- weak in faith (yikes, the gun goes boom)
- not to judge the one who does eat meat
- servants of God
- the Lord is able to make him stand

The person who regards one day above another (and is a believer):
- must be fully convinced in his own mind
- observe it for the Lord
- live and die for the Lord
- belongs to the Lord

The person who regards every day alike (and is a believer):
- must be fully convinced in his own mind
- do so for the Lord
- live and die for the Lord
- belongs to the Lord

- vs. 10-23:
All believers:
- do not judge your brother
- we all stand before the judgement seat of God
- will give an account of ourselves to God
- don't put an obstacle or stumbling block in a brother's way
- if someone thinks something to be unclean, to him/her it is unclean
- do not hurt one another
- pursue the things which make for peace
- build one another up
- have your own conviction before God
- doesn't condemn himself in what he approves =Happy
- eats not from faith and doubts = condemned, sin

Romans Chapter 13

Jennie:

Hi!

What we learn about governing authorities:
- Every person is to be subjected to them
- From God (there is no authority except from Him)
- Established by God
- If we resist them we are opposed to God (and will receive condemnation)
- They are not a cause for fear for good behavior (I'd argue with Paul, here, regarding some countries)
- They are a cause for fear for evil behavior
- We will have praise from them if we do good
- Minister of God
- Avenger, bringing wrath on those who do evil
- Necessary to be in their subjection for the sake of our conscience
- They are servants of God
- They should be given what is due them: honor, fear, taxes (darn)

Regarding others:
- Owe nothing to anyone except mortgages and student loans (just kidding. But really: do you think God would say this is a command or more of a suggestion?)
- Love others, this fulfills the law
- Love others as I love myself (which implies I have to love myself)
- Do no wrong
- Sort of strange to me that Paul then goes into putting off deeds of darkness, making no provision for the flesh. How is that connected to loving others? Selflessness maybe?

Love!

Romans Chapter 12

Jennie:

Here's my thoughts on chapter 12:

- vs. 1: Therefore (because to God be the glory forever) present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice. This is worship. And I like that it says "by the mercies of God, we can't do it all alone.
- vs. 2: God's good, acceptable, and perfect will can be known if we are 1. Not worldly 2. being transformed by the renewing of our minds
- vs. 3: I feel like we use this verse to say that everyone has been allotted some portion of faith from God, but do you think this is more saying that for believers, our faith helps us not think too highly of ourselves?
- vs. 4-8: Though there are many believers in Jesus Christ, we are one body
- vs. 9: "cling to what is good": This stands out to me because Proverbs 31 says I need to do my husband good and not evil all the days of my life. Lord, help me cling to good!
- vs. 10-13: Ooo, lots of good stuff here:
      - Be devoted
      - Have brotherly love for one another
      - Honor each other
      - Be fervent in spirit and diligence
      - Serve the Lord
      - Rejoice in hope
      - Persevere in tribulation
      - Be devoted to prayer
      - Contribute to the needs of others
      - Practice hospitality

- vs. 14-21: More good stuff (notice it never says "protest against people you disagree with")
      - Bless those who persecute you
      - Rejoice with those who rejoice
      - Weep with those who weep
      - Associate with the lowly
      - Don't be "wise" and haughty in your own mind
      - Never pay back evil with evil
      - Respect what is right
      - Be at peace with all men (not just talking about other believers here), so far as it depends on you (boundaries!)
      - Never take your own revenge
      - Leave room for God's wrath, for it is his to repay
      - Feed our enemies, give them something to drink
      - Overcome evil with good

Romans 11:17-35

Hi Jennie:

These verses are just so theologically heavy to me and I feel like I need a degree to understand it. So instead of asking a bunch of questions and getting frustrated, I'll just make lists about what I learn from these verses:

About Gentiles (us):
- Like a wild olive branch
- Grafted into the natural olive tree, contrary to nature
- Should not be arrogant
- Does not support the root, the root supports us
- Must stand by our faith
- Must not be conceited but fear God for God will not spare us either
- Once disobedient but have been shown mercy


About Jews:
- Like a natural olive branch
- Broken off for their unbelief
- Will be grafted back in if they don't continue in their unbelief
- A partial hardening has happened
- Beloved
- Will be shown mercy


About God:
- He is the rich root of the natural olive tree
- Kind
- Severe
- Able to graft branches into the natural olive tree
- Deliverer
- His gifts and calling are irrevocable
- Has shut up all in disobedience so that he may show mercy to all
- Deep riches of wisdom
- Deep riches of knowledge
- His judgements are unsearchable
- His way are unfathomable
- No one knows his mind
- No one has become his counselor
- No one has first given to him that God needs to pay him back
- From him and through him and to him are all things
- The glory is his forever

Romans 11:1-16

Jennie:

Hi! Thought I'd break this one up a bit too.

- vs. 1-2: We know that God hasn't rejected his people Israel because Paul is an Israelite and God has not rejected him.
- vs. 3-4: God "keeps for himself" people who do not bow their knee to other gods. Predestination?
- vs. 5-6: In the same way then God keeps for himself a remnant (very OT word) according to his gracious choice. Again, predestination? I've heard an argument that verse 6 seems to speak to - that of course God "chooses" people to be saved. Otherwise, it's something we have done and not grace alone.
- vs. 7-10: This seems to be saying that God hardens some hearts and darkens some eyes that they cannot see. But I think the point is that not all Israel has been hardened, some have been chosen.
- vs. 11-12: By the Israelite "transgression" (not believing Christ?) salvation has come to the gentiles. But if God choses them not to be saved, how it is transgression? How is it their fault? Again, this question haunts me. Would the biblical answer really be: well, who are you to question God?
- vs. 13-16:  Paul will keep amping up his ministry to the gentiles in hopes that he moves some of his fellow Israelites to jealousy and they are saved. Do you think this is saying that the piece of "dough" that we all originated from as followers of Christ and children of Abraham is God the Father?

Love!
Steph

Romans Chapter 10

Hi Jennie!

For this chapter I think I'll break it up like this:

What we learn about Paul:
- His heart's desire and his prayer is that the people of Israel would be saved


What we learn about Israel:
- They have a zeal for God
- They do not know about God's righteousness
- They try to establish their own righteousness
- God will use other people to make them jealous
- Disobedient and obstinate


What we learn about Christ:
- He is the end of the law
- He is Lord
- His words bring about faith


What we learn about God:
- He raised Jesus from the dead
- Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed
- He is Lord of all, both Jew and Greek
- He is abounding in riches for all who call on his name
- He became manifest/found by those who did not ask for him (gentiles)

Romans Chapter 9

Jennie:

- vs. 1-5: Paul has great grief and sorrow in his heart for his fellow Israelites, he would choose to be separated from Christ if it meant that they could be saved.
- vs. 6-13: I think this is telling us that gentiles who believe in Christ (you and I) are also descendants of Abraham because of the promise, is that your understanding? Not sure why the reference to Rebekah and her sons...
- vs. 14-22: I struggle with these verses. I think Paul is saying that God hardens some hearts (like Pharaoh) to bring glory to his name and demonstrate his power. So some vessels (people) that the potter (God) makes are created to not be saved (predestination?). And of course I ask the exact thing this scripture tells me not to ask: how is it their fault then? The answer is: who are we to question God? Which is probably perfectly legitimate - I have no right to question God for who am I? Did I create the heavens and the earth and set the waters into place and breathe life into living creatures? No. But I just can't help but to think that's sort of a "lame" explanation. It's like a parent telling a child "because I said so".
- vs. 23-29: Verses about other places in scripture that show us that God called some from among the Jews and from among the Gentiles
- vs. 30-33: I think this is saying that Jesus is a "stumbling block" because we get tripped up trying to understand that we are saved not by works (following the law or being "good") but by faith in Jesus Christ alone. But for those who believe in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, we will not be disappointed.

Love!