Saturday, Ordinary 25/Proper 20-- Sept 20
ChapLynne
Posts: 31 Member
Meditation
Saturday, Ordinary 25, Proper 20 continued the theme of following the will of God from yesterday’s lesson. The Psalmist shared the importance of following the law and how obedience played out in the great rewards and deeds of God’s intervention throughout the history of the Jews.
The Old Testament lesson in Exodus addressed the Sabbath day’s needs. God had given clear instructions about collecting the manna and quails for each family member—enough for one day and no more. Most obeyed the rule and only collected enough for the day. Some of the Children of Israel thought they would be clever and save some for the next day. To their surprise God was serious in expecting his rule to be obeyed. There were consequences of their disobedience: the food had rotted and became infested with worms and maggots.
However, for the Sabbath, he changed that rule. Personally, I think this was God’s way of giving women a day off. They were to collect enough for two days and they discovered that those, who obeyed God’s command, had no deterioration in their food, nor worms’ infestations. There were some, still, who failed to obey. They didn’t collect enough for two days and went out early Saturday morning to collect the manna, only to discover there was none.
He had provided a time of rest. No work needed to be done, because the work and preparations had been done the day before. They could all rest from the routines of work. Hence, the Sabbath Day’s rest.
The New Testament lesson in Matthew may not seem to follow the theme of obedience, but Jesus spoke of the difficulty for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Why would it be so difficult? Because like the Children of Israel, who collected too much manna during the week or not enough on Friday, the rich often believe they can do something better than the way God has asked for things to be done. They will take credit for what they do, instead of giving God the glory. As a result the rich miss out on the eternal rewards, because they are too busy showing off their own things.
The famous words of Jesus that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than a rich man to enter heaven. It didn’t say it was impossible, but it did present the obstacles for the rich.
Some people think the eye of the needle is a sewing needle, which would mean a rich person could not ever make it into heaven, since it is impossible for a camel to go through a tiny needle eye. However, in the Middle East, many of the cities were surrounded by walls—very thick walls with gates on each side. When a city was attacked by bandits or other enemies, those, who worked outside the city, such as farmers and shepherds would race to get within the walls. The city would close the gates long before everyone made it inside the walls, so they created a small door within the gate—which could only be opened from the inside. A password or familiarity with the gatekeeper would provide a chance for them to gain entrance.
The smallness of the door was too tiny for animals to enter easily although they could be awkwardly assisted through the door. The door was known as the “needle’s eye.” The story becomes much more credible with the latter interpretation.
But the real theme remained obedience versus disobedience. To follow what God wants us to do opens the door for all kinds of blessings. To arrogantly assert we know better would set us up for the worm ridden manna instead of the blessings of the Promised Land. Obedience indicates a trust in what God has planned for us.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 25, Proper 20
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45;Exodus 16:22-30;Matthew 19:23-30&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;NIV (multiple versions)
Saturday,, Ordinary 25, Proper 20
Psalm 105:1-6 Psalm 105:37-45
Exodus 16:22-30
Matthew 19:23-30
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 121 King James Version (KJV)
1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Exodus 15:22-27
King James Version (KJV)
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
http://www.bible.ca/archeology/maps-bible-archeology-exodus-route.jpg A Map of Exodus Route bible.ca © Steve Rudd used by permission. CCL
23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/63/160458400_456c21bf4b_z_d.jpg?zz=1 Sinai Oasis Camel Adventure Photo by Benjamin; flickr CCL
27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/58/160090792_99fd6f2aa7_z_d.jpg?zz=1 Sinai Oasis Camel Adventure Photo by Benjamin; flickr CCL
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, no one comes close to being as wise as you are and yet we often think we know better. Forgive us for our arrogance and fill us with your love and grace that we might humbly serve you. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Saturday, Ordinary 25, Proper 20 challenged the believer with trusting God’s word to guide every action. When people showed arrogance and ignored the leading of God there was disastrous results. For the Children of Israel, it was maggot-ridden manna or a lack of food.
But for the obedient Hebrew, which seemed to be most of them, they found blessings, sustenance, and they could eat to their fill. In addition, God provided them with a means to rest. In the midst of the threat of invading tribes or challenges of the desert, God gave them a way to take a day off.
Meditation has been proven on many occasions to give the body a boost. God established this principle when he established a day of rest, which could be used in spiritual reflection and worship of God.
The obedient believer could seek ways to glorify God and enjoy him instead of sabotaging the work of God by arrogantly asserting our own ways.
Abraham Lincoln humbly spoke of the need to turn to God in his famous quotation:
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”
Like Lincoln, believers can obediently seek God’s wisdom and trust in the better outcome of the infinite Creator’s making.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Saturday, Ordinary 25, Proper 20 continued the theme of following the will of God from yesterday’s lesson. The Psalmist shared the importance of following the law and how obedience played out in the great rewards and deeds of God’s intervention throughout the history of the Jews.
The Old Testament lesson in Exodus addressed the Sabbath day’s needs. God had given clear instructions about collecting the manna and quails for each family member—enough for one day and no more. Most obeyed the rule and only collected enough for the day. Some of the Children of Israel thought they would be clever and save some for the next day. To their surprise God was serious in expecting his rule to be obeyed. There were consequences of their disobedience: the food had rotted and became infested with worms and maggots.
However, for the Sabbath, he changed that rule. Personally, I think this was God’s way of giving women a day off. They were to collect enough for two days and they discovered that those, who obeyed God’s command, had no deterioration in their food, nor worms’ infestations. There were some, still, who failed to obey. They didn’t collect enough for two days and went out early Saturday morning to collect the manna, only to discover there was none.
He had provided a time of rest. No work needed to be done, because the work and preparations had been done the day before. They could all rest from the routines of work. Hence, the Sabbath Day’s rest.
The New Testament lesson in Matthew may not seem to follow the theme of obedience, but Jesus spoke of the difficulty for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Why would it be so difficult? Because like the Children of Israel, who collected too much manna during the week or not enough on Friday, the rich often believe they can do something better than the way God has asked for things to be done. They will take credit for what they do, instead of giving God the glory. As a result the rich miss out on the eternal rewards, because they are too busy showing off their own things.
The famous words of Jesus that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than a rich man to enter heaven. It didn’t say it was impossible, but it did present the obstacles for the rich.
Some people think the eye of the needle is a sewing needle, which would mean a rich person could not ever make it into heaven, since it is impossible for a camel to go through a tiny needle eye. However, in the Middle East, many of the cities were surrounded by walls—very thick walls with gates on each side. When a city was attacked by bandits or other enemies, those, who worked outside the city, such as farmers and shepherds would race to get within the walls. The city would close the gates long before everyone made it inside the walls, so they created a small door within the gate—which could only be opened from the inside. A password or familiarity with the gatekeeper would provide a chance for them to gain entrance.
The smallness of the door was too tiny for animals to enter easily although they could be awkwardly assisted through the door. The door was known as the “needle’s eye.” The story becomes much more credible with the latter interpretation.
But the real theme remained obedience versus disobedience. To follow what God wants us to do opens the door for all kinds of blessings. To arrogantly assert we know better would set us up for the worm ridden manna instead of the blessings of the Promised Land. Obedience indicates a trust in what God has planned for us.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 25, Proper 20
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45;Exodus 16:22-30;Matthew 19:23-30&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;NIV (multiple versions)
Saturday,, Ordinary 25, Proper 20
Psalm 105:1-6 Psalm 105:37-45
Exodus 16:22-30
Matthew 19:23-30
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 121 King James Version (KJV)
1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Exodus 15:22-27
King James Version (KJV)
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
http://www.bible.ca/archeology/maps-bible-archeology-exodus-route.jpg A Map of Exodus Route bible.ca © Steve Rudd used by permission. CCL
23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/63/160458400_456c21bf4b_z_d.jpg?zz=1 Sinai Oasis Camel Adventure Photo by Benjamin; flickr CCL
27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/58/160090792_99fd6f2aa7_z_d.jpg?zz=1 Sinai Oasis Camel Adventure Photo by Benjamin; flickr CCL
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, no one comes close to being as wise as you are and yet we often think we know better. Forgive us for our arrogance and fill us with your love and grace that we might humbly serve you. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Saturday, Ordinary 25, Proper 20 challenged the believer with trusting God’s word to guide every action. When people showed arrogance and ignored the leading of God there was disastrous results. For the Children of Israel, it was maggot-ridden manna or a lack of food.
But for the obedient Hebrew, which seemed to be most of them, they found blessings, sustenance, and they could eat to their fill. In addition, God provided them with a means to rest. In the midst of the threat of invading tribes or challenges of the desert, God gave them a way to take a day off.
Meditation has been proven on many occasions to give the body a boost. God established this principle when he established a day of rest, which could be used in spiritual reflection and worship of God.
The obedient believer could seek ways to glorify God and enjoy him instead of sabotaging the work of God by arrogantly asserting our own ways.
Abraham Lincoln humbly spoke of the need to turn to God in his famous quotation:
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”
Like Lincoln, believers can obediently seek God’s wisdom and trust in the better outcome of the infinite Creator’s making.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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