This is The Living Word Bible Study for groups and individuals for Sunday, August 21, 2022
Theme: How God Works Out His plan and Purpose in our Lives
Jeremiah 1:4-10 — The prophet reluctantly accepts His commission
Luke 13:10-17 — A long-crippled woman is set free in the synagogue
Hebrews 12:18-29 — The new covenant in Jesus is a joyful prospect
• See this week’s linked article How God Works His Purpose In Our Lives
• Watch this week’s video (coming shortly) but the Preview is posted
Psalm 71:1-6
1 In You, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
2 In Your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn Your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
5 For You have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on You; You brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise You.
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Jeremiah 1:4-10 — The prophet reluctantly accepts His commission
God doesn’t wait for us to feel ready but equips us for His purpose as we go
Introducing Jeremiah’s call and message: Jeremiah’s calling (vv. 4-8) and message (vv. 9-16) were as difficult as his times, for the people were in no mood to hear God’s word. Nevertheless, God directed him to preach and write about Judah’s sin and its consequences.
4-5 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
“The word of the LORD came” — introducing a divine oracle at the beginning of a prophetic book. Jeremiah did not speak out of his own imagination.
“I knew you” — in the sense of making Jeremiah the object of His choice. The Hebrew verb used here is translated “chosen” in Gen. 18:19; Amos 3:2.
“Prophet”—lit. “one who has been called” to be God’s spokesman, see Exodus 7:1-2; 1 Sam. 9:9; Zech. 1:1.
6 “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
“I cannot speak” — like Moses, Exod. 3:4, Jeremiah pleads inadequacy and inexperience, but God identifies fear as the real issue, v.8
7-8 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.
“You must go” — as God’s royal messenger Jeremiah is to stop voicing disqualification and fear, and speak obediently whatever and wherever God directs him.
“I will rescue” — he is not immune from persecution or imprisonment but will be delivered from serious physical harm, see Jer. 1: 19; 15:20; 39:17.
9-10 Then the LORD reached out His hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put My words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
“Put My words in your mouth” — spoken by Jeremiah, but the Lord’s words, in the way of the dual nature of Scripture. The same assurance was given to Moses in Deut. 18:18.
Reflection
SUMMARY God calls Jeremiah with a prophetic word, telling him that he had set Jeremiah apart to be His messenger even before he was born. Jeremiah protests youth and inexperience, but God tells him that’s not what is needed, but a willingness to go wherever he is sent, and speak out whatever he’s given to say, for God’s words to carry out God’s purpose.
APPLICATION God has a purpose for our lives. Even before we know Him, God sees what we can become and begins to prepare us. Without comparing ourselves to Jeremiah, God simply wants us to be people who will listen, learn, and go with what He has for us.
QUESTION Is there a part of us which is anxious about what a call from the Lord might entail? How do we bring this fear to Him to deal with?
Luke 13:10-17 — A long-crippled woman is set free in the synagogue
Jesus shows that people precede rules and freedom is always God’s aim for us
10-11 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.
“Teaching in one of the synagogues” —local synagogues often invited respected teachers to speak.
“Crippled by a spirit” — showing the connection between spiritual and physical; demonic forces are sometimes the cause of illness and disease.
12 When Jesus saw her, He called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then He put His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
“He called her” — here, Jesus took the initiative. Jesus sometimes called for faith, but not always.
• Further study: see Luke 7:12-14; 8:48; Mark 5:34.
14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
“Not on the Sabbath” — Jesus was not breaking any OT commandment but challenging later legalistic interpretations of them, see Exod. 20:9-10; Deut. 5:13-14.
15-16 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
“Untie your ox” — by putting a higher value on animals than on people in distress, this tradition corrupted the very purpose of the Sabbath, Mark 2:27.
17 When He said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things He was doing.
“Humiliated” — Jesus exposed His enemies’ lack of love, and shamed them.
Reflection
SUMMARY In the shadows of the synagogue where he had been asked to teach, Jesus saw a woman bent over and crippled — and He calls her forward. He declares her free from infirmity, lays His hands on her and for the first time in nearly 20 years she is able to stand up straight and move freely. The synagogue ruler, possibly a Pharisee, was furious at healing being performed on the Sabbath, but the Lord faced him down, saying that even the most strict among them had no qualms about leading their animals out for water on the Sabbath. And He pointed out that the sabbath was the best day for someone to be set free from Satan!
APPLICATION God planned this deliverance long before, and had a purpose for this woman to be set free on this day. On this occasion, Jesus calls for no evidence of faith on the woman’s part. This highlights God’s grace and purpose even more clearly. It also emphasises God’s desire that we should be free as part of salvation, deliverance and healing.
QUESTION The woman in the story is set free from physical infirmity. In what other ways are we commonly bound up and needing to be set free by Jesus?
Hebrews 12:18-29 — The new covenant in Jesus is a joyful prospect
Fear and obedience under the old covenant give way to God’s grace in Jesus
18-19 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them…
“A mountain… burning with fire” — the terrifying occasion when the law was given at Mount Sinai is not the joyful encounter with God they look forward to.
• Further study: Exodus 19:10-25; Deut. 4:11-12; 5:22-26.
20-21 …because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly…
“Mount Zion” — as opposed to Mt. Sinai, where God gave the Mosaic law. Zion here stands for God’s heavenly abode, which is inviting to all who come to God through Jesus Christ.
• Further study: Ps. 132:13, 14; Isaiah 46:13; Zech. 2:10; Gal. 4:21-31.
23 …to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect…
“Church of the firstborn” — assembly of all the recorded believers in Christ, the supreme “Firstborn” and heir. A reminder that believers are privileged as heirs together with Christ, Hebrews 1:2, Romans 8:17, Galatians 3:29.
24 …to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
“Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant” — foretold by Jeremiah, Jer. 31:31-34, the new covenant of grace established in Jesus’ self-sacrifice for those who believe and trust in Him.
• Further study: Hebrews 8:7-13; 9:11-14; 10:15-18.
“Better word than the blood of Abel” — whereas Abel’s blood cried out for justice and retribution, Genesis 4:10, the blood of Jesus shed on the Cross spells forgiveness and reconciliation, Hebrews 9:12, 10:19; Col. 1:20; 1 John 1:7.
25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven?
“Do not refuse Him who speaks” — a lesser-to-greater comparison: if people did not escape judgment when warned by Moses, how much more urgent is the need for those who dismiss the gospel to turn and receive the invitation of the Son of God.
“How much less will we” — some hearers may not have possessed true faith.
26-27 At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
“Once more I will shake” — as the second coming of Christ end time draws close there is a sifting to release what can be transformed and made new. All of creation will be shaken and removed at the judgment at the end of the age, 1 Cor. 7:31; 2 Peter 3:10, 12; Rev. 21:1.
28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
“Our God is a devouring fire” — from Deut. 4:24 speaking both of God’s awesome power and His right to judge.
Reflection
SUMMARY Disciples of Jesus of Jewish background are reminded in this letter of the terrifying occasion when God revealed himself in fire, storm and deafening trumpet blast. This was the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. But this is not their destination. They are to look forward to a very different, joyful encounter with God with the whole assembly of those who are in Christ and countless angels, celebrating Jesus’ sacrificially shed blood which spells forgiveness and reconciliation.
APPLICATION This jubilant occasion of fellowship around the throne of God is also a picture of judgment for those who have refused the offer or dismissed Jesus. It means that they will be consigned to eternal separation and lostness. God has a gracious plan and purpose for each one of us, but we cannot earn it — we can only receive it and that requires a measure of faith and trust in turning to Jesus, the only One who can save us.
QUESTION Before we asked Jesus into our heart and found that God is real, who believed in us and encouraged us along this spiritual path?
PRAYER Father God, we acknowledge that You are holy and You have every right to judge us, to find us guilty of our misdeeds and independence, and act accordingly.
We thank You that in Jesus we find grace and forgiveness and eternal life, a salvation that we could never achieve by any good works or religious obedience.
We thank You that He is still at His work of seeking out those in the grip of Satan and calling them into His freedom and new life. We praise You that He found us before we found Him.
May faith rise in us to move joyfully into Your purpose for us — whether it’s the beginning, the middle or the final stretch — that our lives may give glory to You in Jesus. Amen.
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The Living Word for August 21, 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. TLW33C
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PRINT EDITION There’s also 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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