The Living Word

Bible study on the set readings widely used by various churches and chapels and a weekly storytelling video. Also at www.medium.com/the-living-word and https://thelivingword.substack.com

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Archives for March 2022

March 27: God’s Generous Exchange

March 25, 2022 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

White giant bags in farmyard with Hay Bluff and other hills in western background
Ready for drilling at The Ley, Weobley, Herefordshire

TLW12C for Sunday, March 27 (fourth Sunday in Lent). Bible readings as set by the non-denominational Revised Common Lectionary

Psalm 32

Joshua 5:9-12 — The end of the manna and start of food from crops

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 — The story of the lost son welcomed back

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 — We carry the good news of reconciliation

Theme: God’s generosity offers us new for old

• See also this week’s linked article God’s Gracious Exchange — New Life for Old

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Verses from Psalm 32 — setting the scene

This psalm is attributed to David

1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And You forgave the guilt of my sin…

10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him.

11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

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Joshua 5:9-12 — The end of the manna and start of food from crops

The Israelites celebrate another memorable crossing with a wave offering

9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.

“Reproach” — the shame, not only of being enslaved, but also the cost to God’s reputation.

“Gilgal” — sounds like the Hebrew word for circle, wheel or roll.

10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.

“The Passover” — first celebrated shortly before Israel left Egypt and now, at the same time of Aviv (barley ripening or spring), shortly after they crossed the Jordan. 

• For further study: read Exodus 12, Leviticus 23:5.

11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain.

“Produce of the land” — the basic food they found in Canaan was the barley that ripened at this time of year.

“Unleavened bread and roasted grain” — following the Passover they celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread which recalls the hasty departure from Egypt with no time for yeast to work.

12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

“The manna stopped” — this ended 40 years of God’s special provision for the wilderness, not now needed as they have entered fertile land.

SUMMARY This is celebrating the end of 40 years in the wilderness, and the new start in a land of plenty.

APPLICATION This short story introduces the overall story of God’s generous exchange. The temporary subsistence of the desert years has been replaced by His new provision, and the shame of being slaves and refugees has been rolled away in a new sense of being in the place where they belong.

QUESTION We often celebrate new beginnings. How much do we see them as God-given?

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Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 — The story of the lost son welcomed back

The forgiving love shown by the father shows God’s priority of the lost 

1-3 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable:

“Tax collectors and sinners” — all three stories explain why Jesus shared life with people the Pharisees despised.

11-12 “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“He divided his property” — a family property might be allocated to the sons with the father retaining an income, but for the younger son to want his share early was insulting.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

“Set off for a distant country” — with his share in cash, he emigrated, like many Judeans seeking a fortune, with no thought of returning.

14-16 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“To feed pigs” — considered unclean by Jews, pigs were kept by Gentiles in areas like the Decapolis and beyond. Feeding them and wanting to share their food is being at rock bottom.

17-19 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

“Sinned against heaven and against you” – extreme deprivation brought him to his senses, and realisation of his sin against heaven as well as his father, the start of true repentance.

“One of your hired servants” – a hired hand without the rights of a family member.

20 “So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“He ran to his son” – undignified for an older man but his love for his son overruled.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“No longer worthy” – his prepared speech and confession of sin acknowledges that he deserves nothing.

22-24 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Bring the best” – the father gives his son a robe of distinction, the signet ring of family authority, and footwear that a servant would not wear. This is in contrast to the contempt with which the religious leaders regarded sinners who came to Jesus.

25-27 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older son” — among the story’s first hearers, the Pharisees, superior and dismissive of sinners finding repentance, were like the older son while the younger son represents the tax collectors.

28-30 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

“All these years” — the older son presents his sense of entitlement, also angry and resentful at the forgiving love shown by the father. He exaggerates his brother’s former faults without sharing the joy of his repentance.

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

“My son” – the father appeals affectionately to the resentful older son. By implication, Jesus is continuing to invite the Pharisees to change their stance and take hold of the good news.

“This brother of yours” — emphasising his kinship, which the older brother has overlooked. Similarly the religious leaders excluded those they judged as sinners even though they were brothers in the Jewish faith.

SUMMARY  This is the second of three ‘lost and found’ stories Jesus told, which speak mainly to the disapproving Pharisees standing apart from those crowding around Jesus, The story brings out the false sense of entitlement of the older brother contrasted with the younger one making no claim but humbly requesting to be forgiven.

APPLICATION  Repentance is a change of heart, evidenced by actions that stem from that change. Pride is the barrier and the errant son had to experience a very hard time and be broken to himself before finding the humility to seek change. Then he was given acceptance, in exchange for the shame he was carrying. These stories show Jesus prioritising those that need Him the most, who others would write off and exclude. We must share His priority.

QUESTION  How does the penitent son’s speech about being no longer worthy speak to us about how we trust Christ and receive the Father’s love?

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2 Corinthians 5:16-21— We carry the good news of reconciliation

Spiritually recreated through Christ’s sacrifice, we have a story to tell

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

“Worldly point of view” — Paul acknowledges having a different, unspiritual perspective before his conversion.

17-19 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.

“In Christ” – a person who becomes a Christian believer is united with Jesus both in His death and in His resurrection, in the old life put to death, and the new, regenerated, spiritual life received.

 “The new creation” – the person who chooses to become a Christian undergoes a spiritual transformation which can be seen in a changed manner of life, living for Christ rather than for themselves and seeing others with the eyes of faith rather than worldly judgment. It’s not just reforming the old nature; it’s living as a recreated being.

19-21 And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

“Committed to us the message of reconciliation” – Paul is the prophetic minister of God’s new covenant with those who will trust Christ to free them from the power of sin. And we share that ongoing ministry.

• For further study: the power of sin, Isaiah 52:6-10; Romans 10:15, 2 Cor. 5:14-15; the ‘peace treaty’ and new covenant, Isaiah 53:5, 2 Cor 3:4-6.

“In Him we might become the righteousness of God” — Jesus, the only entirely righteous One, took our sin on Himself, suffering the punishment and alienation we deserved at the Cross, and by a marvellous exchange made it possible for us to receive His righteousness and be reconciled to God. Believers are given a new right-standing in the divine court, the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith, Philippians 3:9.

SUMMARY  This short passage contains a clear and concise statement of the gospel, the good news of how our selfish attitude and independence, so offensive to God, is exchanged for a new identity and way of being, made possible by Jesus’ self-sacrifice on the Cross.

APPLICATION  We cannot share with others what we have not experienced ourselves, but equally we can hardly be shy of talking about the change we have experienced through finding reconciliation with God. We have different gifts and personalities, but we all share the ministry of the new covenant to others.

QUESTION  How practised are you at sharing briefly the story of how you found reconciliation with Almighty God through deciding to believe and trust Jesus?

PRAYER  Father, Your gracious generosity to us is still astounding — that you could reach out to us who were so undeserving and give us what we could not possibly earn.
This is good news, and we want to live it to the full and tell it to all we meet.
But we need some holy boldness — and openings.
Help us to be generous and accepting to others who do not share our values or lifestyle — remembering how we once were.
We thank You again, Jesus. Amen.

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The Living Word for March 27, 2022, is a non-denominational Bible study which relies on the Bible explaining the Bible, uninfluenced by any church’s traditions or preferences, and following the Bible’s own sequence of progressive revelation. Read the whole passage first and let the Holy Spirit begin speaking to you through it, then go deeper with the verse by verse commentary and reflections. The week’s readings are as set by the Revised Common Lectionary, an inter-denominational resource shared by many different churches and chapels. The Bible version, widely used in contemporary churches, is the NIV © Biblica. Ref. TLW12C

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PRINT EDITION  There’s a PDF print edition produced as a convenient Bible-sized folder which downloads from the link below. Permission given to copy for your own use, home group, or discipling use in the church generally.

TLW12C-March-27-final-BookletDownload

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Filed Under: Lent, Year C

March 20: Don’t slip back!

March 18, 2022 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

Telephoto shot of misty Salisbury Cathedral from Old Sarum
Salisbury Cathedral from Old Sarum

TLW11C for Sunday, March 20

Theme: Don’t slip spiritually, seek the Lord while He is near. See also this week’s linked article Don’t Let Spiritual Pride Become Your Downfall and video (10 min watch)

Verses from Psalm 63:1-8 — Setting the scene

Isaiah 55:1-9 — A call to come back to God while He may be found

Luke 13:1-9 — Now is the time to turn to God with a changed heart

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 — Return to living God’s way as His witness

Verses from Psalm 63:1-8 — Setting the scene

3-4 Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands…

7-8 Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me.

Isaiah 55:1-9 — A call to come back to God while He may be found

Don’t pay for what cannot sustain: God’s goodness is there for the asking

The imagery is of the water seller, prominent among other market vendors. It is an invitation to God’s people to “buy” His forgiveness — the point being, that it is free.

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

“Come… come… come” — expressed with urgency to all hearers. Water stands for spiritual refreshment, Prov. 9:5, wine and milk for abundance and nourishment.

“Buy… without cost” – it is all free, following on from the Suffering Servant whose death paid for the gift of life, Isaiah 53:5-9.

• For further study, Christ offering the water of life, John 4:14, 7:37; also Rev. 22:17.

2 “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy?

“What is not bread” — the exiles were urged not to meet spiritual needs with empty pagan practices.

“Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.

3 “Give ear and come to Me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, My faithful love promised to David.

“Everlasting covenant” — for the immediate hearers, a reminder that the broken covenant that resulted in exile, is on God’s side an enduring promise of faithful love (chesēd). The double meaning points to the new and better covenant through David’s descendant, Jesus Christ.

4 “See, I have made Him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.

5 “Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has endowed you with splendour.”

“Witness to the peoples” — the Messiah was, and is, a light to the nations, Isaiah 42:6, 49:6.

“Nations… will come” — the promises to David extend beyond the Jewish nation, to other nations, fulfilling the “all nations will be blessed by you” promise to Abraham, Genesis 12:3.

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

“Seek the Lord” – this is God’s offer for this time, and people should not delay, Psalm 32:6.

• For further study, the prophets’ frequent call to seek the Lord, e.g. Jer. 29:13-14, Hosea 3:5, Amos 5:4,6,14. 

7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

“Let them turn” — or repent: the way of entering a saving relationship with God is to seek God’s ways, turn from what is unrighteous, and humbly look to His mercy and pardon.

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

“My thoughts… not your thoughts” – the man-made obstacle, wanting to reduce God’s work in our salvation to something we can understand and perform.

9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

“So are My ways higher” — Jesus came to make a way of undeserved favour and new life for us, commanding simply “Believe in Me”, John 11:25.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Isaiah’s message is a follow-on from the Suffering Servant prophecy. The Servant in the earlier passage will enable people to do what the later passage urges. It is about coming back to God, calling on Him and listening.

APPLICATION  His ways are higher, and He has a ‘higher’ way for us to approach Him — not labouring on what does not satisfy. Then as now, there’s a temptation to take the wrong path, the easier option of working to please God rather than discovering a relationship with someone holy and majestic. Yet the call to “Listen… give ear… come to Me” tells us that what God wants most is our response to His love. And Jesus, the Servant, makes that connection for us.

QUESTION  In what ways do we “labour on what does not satisfy” and “spend money on what is not bread”?

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Luke 13:1-9 — Now is the time to turn to God with a changed heart

Jesus offers a new start to everyone and everyone needs to take it

Jesus continues to call people to repent and discern the times. In the context of two local calamities He emphasises that everyone needs to repent.

1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

“Galileans whose blood” — apparently Pilate killed Galileans offering sacrifices at a major festival. Like the Tower of Siloam collapse, this is not known outside this account.

2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?

3 “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

4 “Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?

“Tower in Siloam” — probably part of the southern wall near the Pool of Siloam.

“More guilty?” — those unscathed by recent calamities were not to see themselves as innocent and immune from judgment. Suffering does not always correspond to God’s wrath, John 9:1-3.

5 “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

“Unless you repent” — every person has to come to their own personal decision to turn to Christ, and part of that is turning from independence to live for Him.

6 Then He told this parable: “A man had a fig-tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.

“In his vineyard” — God is the owner of the vineyard, which included some fig trees and represents the nation of Israel.

7 “So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig-tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

“Cut it down” — like God’s judgment in Psalm 105:33

“If it bears fruit” — there is a limited time of grace and opportunity for Israel to produce the fruit of repentance, in receiving Jesus’ miracles and message.

8-9 “Sir,” the man replied, “leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig round it and fertilise it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.”

“I’ll dig round it” – sinfulness calls for judgment but in God’s mercy goodness may reach the roots and bring change… Jesus urges people to repent while there is time.

• For further study, Jesus urges repentance, Luke 10:13-16; 11:29-32; 12:13-21; 13:1-5, 31-35.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Like us, the people Jesus addressed were too quick to find reasons why they did not need to repent. Being untouched by two local disasters was, for some, a sign of God’s favour and blessing. Jesus was forthright in demolishing their complacency, repeating the phrase, “…unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

APPLICATION  “Repent” is often seen as a difficult word, implying a judgment that offends our pride. Yet turning from what offends God, is also a turning towards Him, and experiencing His love and gracious enabling. When we learn to see repentance as realignment with God’s purposes, and the way to connect with and receive the undeserved blessing He wants to give us, a ‘difficult’ word becomes an enabling one.

QUESTION  How will you let Jesus be Lord in a deeper way in this Lent season?

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1 Corinthians 10:1-13 — Return to living God’s way as His witness

Those who think they are strong spiritually need to guard against falling

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.

“I do not want you…ignorant” — warning from Israel’s history: Paul uses the example of the judgment on God’s people in the desert for putting their trust other than in God.

2 They were all baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

“Our ancestors” – Paul connects the mainly Gentile Corinthians with OT Israel, delivered from slavery in Egypt by a miraculous escape through the sea and the cloud’s leading in the wilderness, Exodus chapters 12-17.

3-5 They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

“Drank from the spiritual rock” – Paul sees Christ as being with them in the miracles of water from the rock, at the beginning and the end of the desert journey, Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:7-11.

“Not pleased” — their spiritual food and drink did not prevent bad choices and consequent judgment then, vv. 8-10. Spiritual food now does not absolve us from poor choices, vv. 6, 11.

6-7 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”

“Do not be idolaters” – as in the shameful golden calf incident, Exodus 32:5-6, 17-19. For the Corinthians it is continuing to attend pagan temple banquets, 1 Cor. 8-10.

8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did — and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

“Sexual immorality” — Paul compares Corinth’s immoral customs with the time Midianite women seduced Israelite men into idolatry, bringing the judgment of a plague, Numbers 25:1-9 and 31:16

9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did — and were killed by snakes.

“Should not test Christ” – again seeing Christ as spiritually present during the desert wanderings. Complaining about the manna brought the judgment of deadly snakes – but by gazing up at a bronze snake on a pole the repentant ones were miraculously delivered, Numbers 21:8-9.

10-11 And do not grumble, as some of them did — and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

“Culmination of the ages” — when Jesus came He fulfilled God’s promises and opened the final act, the last days, Hebrews 9:26.

• For further study, read 2 Cor. 5:1-5, 1 Thess. 5:4-8, Hebrews 1:2, 1 Peter 1:20.

“No temptation” — temptation is not sin but yielding to temptation, or to testing, is: Matt. 6:13.

12-13 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

“Be careful” – Corinthian believers in a society of temples and pagan functions needed to be reminded of God’s overarching grace and protection.

SUMMARY  The Corinth church was richly blessed with the experience of Jesus through an openness to His Spirit, and the flow of all the spiritual gifts. However, Corinth was a cosmopolitan city with all sorts of temples and beliefs, and to belong to a trade guild or just participate in Corinthian society presented Christians with difficult choices. Some believers showed spiritual pride in considering themselves above the dangers of guild dinners in honour of a pagan deity. Paul reminds them how the Israelites in the desert lost sight of their pledge to worship the Lord God and Him only — and their fate.

APPLICATION  To mock God is no light matter, as Paul told the Galatian church in a different letter. We can all make poor choices and slip into unholy compromises with the values of the world system around us. And when we think we are “standing firm” against temptation, that’s the time of greatest danger.

QUESTION  In our world what common compromises are spiritually harmful?

PRAYER  Father God, we come to you in Jesus and count Him our Lord.

We ask Your Holy Spirit to reveal to us where, in our thinking and practice, we have slipped into unholy ruts.

Help us in this preparation season to re-align with You in renewed commitment. Amen.

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The Living Word for March 20, 2022, is a non-denominational Bible study which relies on the Bible explaining the Bible, uninfluenced by any church’s traditions or preferences, and following the Bible’s own sequence of progressive revelation. Read the whole passage first and let the Holy Spirit begin speaking to you through it, then go deeper with the verse by verse commentary and reflections. The week’s readings are as set by the Revised Common Lectionary, an inter-denominational resource shared by many different churches and chapels. The Bible version, widely used in contemporary churches, is the NIV © Biblica. Ref. TLW11C

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PRINT EDITION  There’s a PDF print edition produced as a convenient Bible-sized folder which downloads from the link below. Permission given to copy for your own use, home group, or discipling use in the church generally.

TLW11C-March-20-final-BookletDownload

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Filed Under: Lent, Year C

March 13: Partnership is God’s desire

March 8, 2022 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

Early spring blue sky, white clouds viewed through hanging basket
Early spring morning sky

Theme: Partnership is God’s desire and direction

Psalm 27

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 — God establishes His covenant with Abram

Luke 13:31-35 — Jesus promises His continuing ministry

Philippians 3:17-4:1 — Heaven’s honour is over those who keep faith

• See also this week’s linked article Partners in Mission and this week’s VIDEO ‘Partnership Is God’s Desire’

Landscape (desktop)

also available in square format (mobiles)


Setting the scene: verses from Psalm 27

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

5 For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

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Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 — God establishes His covenant with Abram

God receives his trust as righteousness, and gives him a lasting promise

1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:

“In a vision” — showing Abram’s role as a prophet. The vision came at night, with stars visible (see v.5).

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. ”

“Do not be afraid” — a command frequently repeated in the Bible. God meets us with unconditional love. Satan’s attempts to influence us are recognisable through his use of fear.

Your shield… your reward” — the vision initially combined a command, an assurance and a promise. Abram was to trust God without fear, to know His assurance, and to receive God’s promise of provision.

2-3 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

“Childless… who will inherit” — Abram expresses his anxiety about succession three times. Eliezer is a servant who has become ‘family’.

4-5 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

“Count the stars” – approximately 8,000 are visible in a Middle East night sky.

6 Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

Credited… as righteousness” — this key statement teaches that God responds to faith by crediting righteousness to the one who believes Him. Abram is the “father of all who believe”, the first reference to faith in God’s promises, Romans 4:11, Hebrews 11:8.

• For further study: In the NT, Paul quotes this verse three times, Romans 4:3, 4:22 and Galatians 3:6 to teach that Gentile Christians without Jewish heritage are made righteous through faith. In every age people have claimed salvation by belonging, to the Jewish race or by initiation into a church denomination, or through living in a ‘Christian country’. The Reformation and renewal movements since have emphasised the truth of salvation by faith alone.

7 He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”

“Brought you out of Ur” — Abram had demonstrated faith in his previous test.

8 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?”

9 So the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”

“Bring Me a heifer…” — Abram would have been familiar with the way royal land treaties were established in this ancient “exchange of contracts”.

10-11 Abram brought all these to Him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

“Cut them in two” — a symbol of staking one’s own life on keeping the agreement.

“Birds of prey” — vultures, symbolising the attacks that always come on God’s people who are following His will. Later, Egypt, like the predatory birds, would try to prevent the covenant being fulfilled, verses 17-18.

12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

17-18 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.

“When the sun had set” — the ritual is completed in darkness, into which God’s presence comes as a flaming torch and smoking firepot, see also Exodus 13:21-22.

“The Lord made a covenant” — the Hebrew phrase is literally “cut a covenant”. The reference to descendants and land, links this solemn and unconditional pledge with the earlier conditional promise, which required Abram to journey to a new location, where he would become a great nation, Genesis 12:1-9.

Reflection

SUMMARY God appears to His loyal follower, Abram, and sets him about preparing a royal treaty covenant ceremony. People of those times were accustomed to ‘cutting a covenant’ together. The splitting in half of the sacrificed animals was symbolic of the penalty for not following the agreement, although in this case God is making His covenant promise unilaterally. This promise was made to Abram, father of the Jewish nation – and all believers. “Abraham [as he became] is the spiritual father of those who have faith… counted as righteous because of their faith.” Romans 4:11.

APPLICATION This promise made to Abram, father of the Jewish nation, is by extension a promise made to every person who sincerely believes God. Abraham [as he became] is the spiritual father of all those counted as righteous because of their faith, Romans 4:11. Taking God at His word and believing it, is the one action that establishes us as righteous in God’s sight.

QUESTION If Abraham were to come and speak to us about his life lesson, what would he tell us?


Luke 13:31-35 — Jesus promises His continuing ministry

He predicts many Jews coming to faith in Him before His second coming

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to Him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

“At that time” — using stories, Jesus had been teaching the unpopular truth that many Israelites would be excluded from the kingdom while Gentiles from north, south, east and west would be included.

“Leave this place” —probably spoken in Perea and Herod Antipas, the Roman-appointed tetrarch ruler, could execute who he wanted to. But most likely the Pharisees just wanted Jesus to leave their region.

32-33 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day — for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

“I will keep on” — emphasises Jesus’ continuing ministry. Driving out demons and healing people show God’s kingdom to be present. Jesus’ resurrection on the third day would show that inaugurated the kingdom of God.

“No prophet can die outside Jerusalem” – of course, some had but Jesus is using irony to show that Jerusalem, from David’s time onwards the centre of Jewish religion and worship, was far more dangerous to a true prophet of God than threats from Herod in Galilee.

34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

“You who kill the prophets” — the holy city (standing for the whole nation) had often killed its prophets, 2 Chron. 24:21; Jeremiah 26:23.

“Gather your children” – Jesus repeated many of his teachings and this was declared again on Tuesday of Passion Week, Matt. 23:37-38. 

“Under her wings” – in the OT tradition, God sheltered His people under His wings, Psalm 17:8, 36:7; 57:1 etc

35 “Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.'”

“Your house… desolate” – Jesus is predicting the AD 70 destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.

“Blessed is He who comes…” – quoting Psalm 118, one of the psalms sung by pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem for one of the festivals. Jesus is using the psalm to refer to His second coming and to predict many Jews turning and trusting Jesus before that time.

• For further study, see Romans 11:12,14; 24-27; 31-32.

Reflection

SUMMARY The Israelites had abandoned the covenant and paid a terrible penalty in seeing Jerusalem overrun and its people taken into captivity and exile. Now Jerusalem, and its proud tradition as the centre of worship for the nation, is setting itself up again for a similar disaster. Jesus foretells that He will join a long line of prophets who were put to death by the city and people that He loves.

APPLICATION Believing in God’s purposes, which are based on a much longer timescale than we are used to, is made difficult by the situations and difficulties which rise up to oppose. We read the circumstances and say, “It can’t happen,” but God repeats the promises which say, “It cannot not happen!”. Which do we believe?

QUESTION When it all seems to be going wrong, what voices do we hear, and which do we listen to?


Philippians 3:17-4:1 — Heaven’s honour is over those who keep faith

Self-exalting teachers are contrasted with Cross-aware, heaven-centred living

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.

“Following my example” — the concept of discipleship was following an example e.g. Paul’s apostolic demonstration of Christ-like living. Christians generally should live lives that are models to follow.

“A model” — as Paul has written earlier (verse 10) “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.”

18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the Cross of Christ.

“With tears” — aware of how destructive unbelieving teachers are, to God’s work and kingdom.

“Enemies of the Cross” — Christ’s crucifixion was offensive to many, including those who wanted to emphasise observant Judaism, or retain worldly, immoral values.

19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.

“Destiny is destruction” — eternal judgment. They are self-centred and focused on Jewish dietary laws and circumcision, set on present time and place rather than God’s order and eternal purpose.

20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.

“Citizenship… in heaven” — Philippi was a Roman colony where many had earned Roman citizenship and privileges through military service. For Christians, the far greater, and unearned, citizenship is belonging to heaven.

• For further study: believers are exhorted to think in a heaven-centred, rather than world-centred, way — Colossians 3:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:19; 1 Peter 2:11; and of Christ’s return, 1 Cor. 1:7; Titus 2:13.

4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

“Stand firm in the Lord” — in present difficulties and conflicts (detailed in verses that follow), hold on firmly to the Lord and His values.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Paul has founded churches and instructed them to live for God, following his apostolic example. It’s an example we know from other places in the NT that is laced with considerable danger and personal cost. In his absence, the churches become prey to unauthorised and unspiritual self-appointed leaders who do great damage to the gospel and to people, as Paul recounts with tears.

APPLICATION  As Jesus said several times, “A tree is recognised by its fruit.” We can tell who is true, who has their citizenship established in heaven, and who does not. There will always be people bearing ‘bad apples’ but we don’t have to buy their fruit. Choose what is good and proven and above all, Christ-like.

QUESTION  How do we work out who to listen to – and how to say ‘no’ to others?

PRAYER  Lord God, You are light without any darkness, love without any condition, truth without any spin. Help us to believe You, and in taking You at Your word, to be a model to encourage others. To the honour and glory of Jesus, Amen. 


The Living Word for February 27, 2022, is a non-denominational Bible study which relies on the Bible explaining the Bible, uninfluenced by any church’s traditions or preferences, and following the Bible’s own sequence of progressive revelation. Read the whole passage first and let the Holy Spirit begin speaking to you through it, then go deeper with the verse by verse commentary and reflections. The week’s readings are as set by the Revised Common Lectionary, an inter-denominational resource shared by many different churches and chapels. The Bible version, widely used in contemporary churches, is the NIV © Biblica. Ref. TLW08C

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PRINT EDITION  There’s a PDF print edition produced as a convenient Bible-sized folder which downloads from the link below. Permission given to copy for your own use, home group, or discipling use in the church generally.

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https://www.thelivingword.uk

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Welcome to The Living Word

You get a lot more out of the Sunday service readings if they are already speaking to you. TLW is about reading and re-reading these Scriptures with some commentary to bring out what is hidden and make connections with cross references. This is different from liturgy because it is a Bible study, putting the Bible passages in sequence from OT, through the NT gospel era, and then through the lens of the post-resurrection, early church in the power of the Spirit. Enabling this progressive revelation points to a theme.  The translation used is the readable and widely-used 2011 edition of the New International Version (NIV) Bible. Commentary is drawn from a wide range of sources and is Bible-centric and theologically neutral. As we read and reflect and allow the Holy Spirit to help us hear God through His word during the week, we prepare ourselves to hear afresh and receive the Sunday sermon in church or chapel.

For convenience, use the ‘Subscribe’ box below to receive a short email with the Bible passage and notes for each weekday (and that’s all!).

Unsubscribing is just as easy.

A little about me and my vision for The Living Word

I live in the Marches, a green and beautiful expanse of hills between England and Wales where churches and chapels share duty to the Christian faithful in every valley, and churchgoing is still part of the community life. However, there are few Bibles to be seen in these buildings, and home-based groups for fellowship and Bible study are rare.

I want to encourage Sunday worshippers in churches and chapels to enjoy reading the Bible during the week, to get used to hearing God for themselves through His word, and to be  spiritually prepared for the message they will hear on Sunday from the lectionary readings they all share. It is no substitute for meeting and worshipping together, nor for Holy Spirit-inspired preaching. It supports both by encouraging the personal growth of church and chapel members of any denomination. It offers faith encouragement for those no longer able to, or no longer wanting to take part in, formal physical church.

My background is not in churches that use the lectionary and I bring a breadth of tradition and spiritual understanding to the writing.  I have pastored a number of churches and been involved in a variety of other missional initiatives with a ‘kingdom of God’ agenda.

As well as The Living Word and its weekly video I also post regularly on www.freshbread.today and www.thelivingword.substack.com with a podcast as well as video and written content. There is also a Facebook page at fb.com/TLWbiblestudy

Revd Ian Greig BD (Hons), DPS

SEE ALSO other Living Word Publications

Substack newsletter and podcast (free subscription) — audio podcast, video and written content all in one place

Fresh Bread Today — the freshest bake, with a bit of a tang, unpackaged and uncut. His word to live by, today.

Believe the Good News – finding the good news and encouragement all through the Bible

GLOW – God’s Love Over Weobley, encouraging prayer and spiritual fellowship. With a local flavour for this NW Herefordshire village.

 

 

 

 

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