Recent Updates RSS Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Jeremiah Fyffe 6:00 am on September 2, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    Welcome to BibleTogether 

    Here at BibleTogether.com we are reading the Bible together … 4 chapters at a time. We rotate through three sections of the Bible every three days :: the History, the Prophets, and the New Testament along with one Psalm per day.

    I invite you to join us midstream. Just hop in and start reading with us. And leave a comment on one of the reflections to let us know that you’ve come on board.

    CELL :: Text BIBLETOGETHER to 41411 to receive text updates of the Bible Reading Plan.

    PODCAST :: http://www.bibletogether.com/podcast

    TWITTER :: http://twitter.com/bibletogether

    SUBSCRIBE :: to BibleTogether HERE

     
  • Jeremiah Fyffe 1:05 am on September 2, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Readings for September 2-4, 2010 

    September 2-4, 2010 ::

    Mark 14-16 & Psam 34 :: reflection
    1 Samuel 13-15 & Psalm 35 :: reflection
    Lamentations 3-5 & Psalm 36 :: reflection

     
  • Jeremiah Fyffe 1:00 am on September 3, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    Reflections for September 3, 2010 :: 1 Samuel 13-15 & Psalm 35 

    September 3, 2010 :: :: 1 Samuel 13-15 & Psalm 35

    Audio MP3

    My purpose as I read through the Bible is to see who God is and what He has said to His people. I do this by trying to listen to the purpose of each passage. The purpose is not whatever I can make of it, no matter how interesting or helpful of a thought I may have while reading the text. The purpose is the author’s intent and can be discerned by reading the passage within its context.

    These chapters follow the anointing of Saul as king and give a few examples of the nature of his reign. Since Saul certainly did many more things during his reign than those mentioned in these chapters we must ask ourselves, why are these specific events mentioned. First, these events offer a contrast between Saul and Jonathan. Second, these events explain the history of the passing of the kingship from the Saul to the dynasty of David. The remainder of 1 Samuel will continue this story.

    There is a clear contrast between Jonathan’s trust in the Lord and seeking of His will and Saul’s disobedience and rash actions. Jonathan’s trust can be seen when he says, “nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.” In this confession of trust Jonathan is acknowledging that the rescue of Israel will come by the hand of the Lord. In fact, it doesn’t even matter if Saul or Jonathan or a mighty army is gathered or not. Nothing can hinder the Lord.

    Contrast this to Saul later in chapter fourteen. He is about to rush out into battle when the priest restrains him by telling him to seek the Lord first. It turns out that the Lord does not answer him because of his rash vow.


    Chapter 15 explains how the kingdom is torn away from Saul. Saul acted like many throughout history. He sought his own safety and pride while offering a token of sacrifice in order to cover over his disobedience. But Samuel corrects him with words that should strike to our very hearts ::

    Has the LORD as great delight in burn offerings and sacrifices,
    as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
    Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to listen than the fat of rams.

    I am a father of four children. I know the truth of these words personally. I love the hug of my child. I love to play with them, and enjoy their joy. But all of this falls flat if the rest of our relationship is built on defiance. Their joy in our relationship hinges first on their obedience.

    Saul is clearly not going to be allowed to remain king because he has proven to fear man more than God and has shown a desire to make a name for himself rather than to be a man after the Lord’s own heart.


    There is also an excellent lesson here about what it means to give to the Lord, what it means to make sacrifice to Him. A number of years ago I was in a business meeting at a church discussing plans for a future building, when a wealthy man in the congregation stood up and said, “I have given generously to this church for decades. I will not let my money be used to build a building like this.” Earlier that week I had been teaching on 1 Samuel 15 at a local Christian Jr. High. It struck me that this man had not made an offering to the Lord at all. He still held his gift in his hand.

    You see, when we make an offering to the Lord it is as though that offering is consumed. As soon as we place an offering in a plate those resources cease to be under our control and become something devoted to the Lord. Saul thought he could devote to the Lord and still hold onto the devoted things for his purposes. In the church, that means the congregation and its leaders work together with the funds and resources devoted to the Lord to obey Him by using them for the purpose of His mission.


    Psalm 35 ::

    We have already had a long reflection today. The second half of verse 3 says, “Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’” Spend the next few moments with this psalm speaking to your soul about the great salvation you have in Christ. Remind your soul that, “Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!”

     
  • Jeremiah Fyffe 1:00 am on September 2, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    Reflections for September 2, 2010 :: Mark 14-16 & Psalm 34 

    September 2, 2010 :: :: Mark 14-16 & Psalm 34

    Audio MP3

    We have come to the heart of the matter. The religious leaders have resolved to arrest and kill Jesus. We have seen Jesus perform miracles, and we have seen Him teach the people powerfully, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God, but this is the moment for which He came. And, oh, does He shine in perfect obedience, humility, and power.


    The anointing at Bethany is such a touching and instructive story. Jesus is not just a miracle worker or good teacher. And He is not just sacrificial lamb. Jesus to be worshiped. The love and honor with which the woman comes is a “beautiful thing”. It makes me ask what I bring to the Lord, not to make me worthy of Him, but to show that He is worthy. Jesus words remain true today even as we hear this story two thousand years later told in memory of this humble act of worship.


    The prayer in Gethsemane gives us a glimpse into the intimate relationship between the Christ and the Father. He groans in His suffering as the hour of His death and sacrifice approaches. This prayer in the garden is the perfect example of what it means to pray in the Spirit. There is nothing that Jesus did that He did not do in the strength of the Holy Spirit. In His human nature Jesus is torn between life and the cup of suffering that lies ahead. This is not sin, this is not disobedience, this is suffering. Our Savior suffered that night. And He groans and prays and cries out to God from a depth of suffering that only the martyrs have begun glimpse. And yet, each of the disciples of Christ are called to share in His sufferings. And so we can be assured that we also share in the Spirit, sent as the Comforter, the Helper. So that, when we are torn between life and death, when we groan because of the cross that the Lord has called us to bear, when the suffering becomes acute and we do not any longer know how to pray, in the Spirit we will have the strength to cry out, “Not what I will, but what you will.” And we will rise and hasten to the cross through which we will come to know our Savior more.


    While Jesus was praying there was a man that was sleeping. When His moment of suffering came, his flesh increased, and he hid in the shadows calling upon himself curses. He too wept, but his weeping was not the suffering of obedience. He wept a broken man remembering the words of Jesus, that the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Peter was a weak man. Peter was a man in need of a Savior. And it took the promise of a Savior to send the Helper to strengthen Him and cause him to stand again, to bear a cross of proclamation through which the world would hear of the Savior whom he had denied.


    Just before Jesus breathed His last some of the chief priests and scribes mocked Him, calling up to Him to come down from the cross so that they might see and believe. But it was not Jesus’ purpose that He would come down from the cross, but that He would rise up from the grave. And they still did not believe.


    Psalm 34 ::

    Those who look to him are radiant.

    Sometimes the church gets so confused. Those who seek the Lord begin in humility and receive the joy of radiance in the Lord’s presence. But after a while we begin to think it is radiant people who seek the Lord. We begin to think that it was in the nature of those who seek the Lord to shine brightly and to know no shame. We have forgotten our humble state like the poor man who cried and the Lord heard him. It is not radiant people who seek the Lord. It is poor men who cry out to God and their faces reflect the brilliance of being brought in His presence.


    Near the end of this psalm we see a prophecy regarding the suffering of the one who “redeems the life of his servants. We are told that “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.” This was the case with Jesus. Just today we read that He was crucified at the third hour and breathed his last at the ninth hour. Crucifixion was usually a very slow and painful death. In order to hasten suffocation, sometimes the executioners would break the legs of the crucified. Pilate, on the other hand, was surprised that Jesus was already dead. Thus, none of Jesus’ bones were broken, just as was said of Him in this psalm.

     
  • Jeremiah Fyffe 5:00 am on September 1, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    BibleTogether Ad on Molly Piper DOT com 

    Yesterday was a first for me and a first for BibleTogether.com. I purchased an ad spot through Beacon Ad Network. You can see the ad at MollyPiper.com.

    MollyPiper.com

    According to her blog, Molly is first … well, Molly who loves red wine and playing in rain storms. She is also a Christian, a wife, a mother of five (she just had twins, Cadence and Whitsun), a child sponsor, and a knitter.

    I ran across Molly’s blog in two ways. First, I follow her husband’s blog, TwentyTwo Words by Abraham Piper. Second, about a year ago I watched an exuberant rendition of Luke 2 by a boy named Orison. I just had to know more about this kid and his family.

    I encourage you to drop by Molly’s blog and enjoy what you find there. Sometimes it is just good to see other believers living in other parts of the country living faithfully the Words of the gospel that we have received and reflect so much on here at BibleTogether.com.

     
  • Jeremiah Fyffe 1:00 am on September 1, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    Reflections for September 1, 2010 :: Lamentations 1-2 & Psalm 33 

    September 1, 2010 :: :: Lamentations 1-2 & Psalm 33

    Audio MP3

    Lamentations is made up of five poems. These laments were likely composed by Jeremiah, the prophet. We will read the first two today and the final three next time.

    The first poem looks upon the destruction of Jerusalem, the city of God, and why it is that this destruction has come. The people have sinned and now the Lord has bound up their transgressions as a yoke that they must bear. And it is more than they can bear, such that that are crushed under it.

    Jeremiah continues the confession on behalf of Jerusalem that “the LORD is right, for I have rebelled against his word.” God is not unjust to have brought His wrath upon the people. And Jeremiah is right to groan, and to be in distress, to become sick with grief.

    I pray that I too will begin to understand the grief of seeing idolatry and wickedness among the people of God. God is just and worthy to be praised because He does not allow the wicked to go unpunished. But it ought to bring us grief to see the people who bear the name of God fall under the discipline of their own faithlessness. It is a sorrowful thing to see the LORD “become like an enemy” to His people.


    Chapter 2 speaks of the prophets of the people. It is in large part because of their false visions and misplaced security that the people have become misled. There is ample blame to go around. But the people are not guiltless. It is their responsibility to know the law of the Lord. It is their responsibility to meditate upon it day and night. The prophets ought to have called them back to their covenant with God, but the people also ought to have known their own wickedness and turned in repentance. And as we have seen, God did send faithful prophets such as Jeremiah and Isaiah to speak the truth and warn of the impending destruction if they did not turn and repent.


    Psalm 33 ::

    In the middle of this psalm is a verse that is often partially quoted. It says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD …” But the second half of the verse says, “… the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.” There are a few things that I would like to observe about this verse. First, the psalmist uses the covenant name for God. We know this in the English translation because the letters of LORD are all capitalized. This is the name Yahweh, the name that God revealed to Moses as the covenant name between God and the people He had chosen to bless.

    Second, this nation which is blessed is not just any nation. It is the nation “chosen” by God. This psalm is speaking of the special blessing that the Israelite people received when God came to them, having called them out of Egypt, and made a covenant with them to be their God and that they would be His people. This is why the lament of Lamentations is so powerful. With the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of the people, it is as though the people had become an enemy of God.

    Thus, there must be more to being a nation whose God is the LORD than simply being Israel. Israel, having forsaken the LORD came to know the curse of God as a nation. And yet, a nation can’t just take a vote or have a proclamation by a king or a president that thereby makes them God’s nation. It is not by the will of man, but by the will of the LORD that He choses whom He will bless. God, in Christ has chosen people from out of all the nations of the earth to be His people. These are the people whom, through Christ, know the steadfast love of the LORD. The eye of the LORD is upon these who fear Him.

    Israel was foolish when filled with idolatry and surrounded by enemies to cry “peace, peace” simply because the temple was in their midst. And any nation today is equally foolish to believe that they are God’s people simply because they have received great blessing in the past. There is no nation other than Israel who are descendants of the promise to Abraham. But the promise of the LORD to Abraham was that through Him all the families of the earth would be blessed. It is in Christ, the promised descendant of Abraham that the blessing of Yahweh has come upon “all the inhabitants of the world” that we might “stand in awe of him!”

     
  • Jeremiah Fyffe 1:00 am on August 31, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    Reflections for August 31, 2010 :: 1 Samuel 10-12 & Psalm 32 

    August 31, 2010 :: :: 1 Samuel 10-12 & Psalm 32

    Audio MP3

    Saul is given a two-fold commission by Samuel. He is to reign over and save the people. But notice that the people remain the people “of the Lord”. They are not the king’s people. Rather, the king is anointed from among the people to serve the Lord. It is for this reason that Samuel explains the “rights and duties of the kingship.”

    I was struck by how much was made in chapter 10 of Saul’s being given “another heart” and the fact that he would prophesy and be “turned into another man”. All of this is because the “Spirit of God rushed upon him”. These things took place to confirm before the people and within Saul that he was the anointed of God. And yet, we will see that later the Spirit departs from Saul. The Spirit worked a different role in the human heart before Christ’s promise to send the Spirit as comforter and as a deposit of salvation.


    Immediately we see Saul, the king, coming to the rescue of the people in Jabesh-gilead. Again, we see the Spirit of God enabling Saul, much like He did for Samson and many of the judges, to save the people from their oppressors.


    Samuel’s address of the people is moving. He speaks of his walking before the Lord from his youth until this day. Samuel is a refreshing example of faithfulness and integrity. And yet, the circumstances of his life are not perfect. His sons did not follow in his ways. The first king that he anoints did not continue in the ways of the Lord. And his warning to the people to “fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice” goes unheeded. Again, we see a promise of blessing for those who trust in the Lord and the promise of curse for those who turn from Him.

    Samuel puts it so well when he warns them not to turn to “empty things”. He tells them that these “empty things” cannot “profit or deliver”. This is the foolishness of sin. Sin comes promising great reward, but the only wage of sin is death.


    Psalm 32 ::

    This psalm is refreshing for the sinner. It really has four parts. It begins with the statement of the blessing of forgiveness. But it also explains that forgiveness is more than a simple passing over. Forgiveness requires a covering. The guilt of the sin must be dealt with. And ultimately, this covering is fulfilled by the sacrifice of Christ.

    Second, the psalmist remembers a time when he kept silent about his sin. There is no repentance and there is no confession. It is not so much that he ignores his sin. He knows it is there, but he is unwilling to bring his guilt to the Lord. But it is the faithfulness of the Lord to weigh heavily upon his soul, to wick away his strength, such that he knows that he cannot continue in this state.

    Third, it is through the acknowledgement of his sin before God that he finds relief. For all of his hiding in silence, once he confesses his sin, the Lord becomes a hiding place for him.

    Finally, the psalmist instructs the congregation to listen and hear the instruction and wisdom of trusting in the Lord. But let us see that to trust in the Lord is not to live in perfection, but to bring our imperfection before Him and receive forgiveness and covering. Truly, the Lord becomes a comfort and a shelter.

     
  • Jeremiah Fyffe 1:05 am on August 30, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags:   

    Readings for August 30 – September 1, 2010 

    August 30 – September 1, 2010 ::

    Mark 11-13 & Psalm 31 :: reflection
    1 Samuel 10-12 & Psalm 32 :: reflection
    Lamentations 1-2 & Psalm 33 :: reflection

     
  • Jeremiah Fyffe 1:00 am on August 30, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    Reflections for August 30, 2010 :: Mark 11-13 & Psalm 31 

    August 30, 2010 :: Mark 11-13 & Psalm 31

    Audio MP3

    These chapters begin Jesus’ movement toward the cross and His final week of ministry. It is beautiful to see Jesus worshipped by the crowds. True, they did not fully understand His power and sovereignty, but for a brief season Jesus was surrounded by the worship that is due Him.

    Just a note, Bethany was the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, Jesus’ close friends and partners in ministry. Bethany was just on the outskirts of Jerusalem and appears to have been a home for Him when He traveled to Jerusalem.


    Chapter 12 is filled with numerous attempts by the religious leaders to catch Jesus in His words in order to bring a charge against Him. But, instead, we get a few excellent teachings on a variety of subjects. When the Pharisees try to catch Jesus by tempting Him to refuse to pay taxes to Rome, Jesus shows His indifference to monetary need by instructing them to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” In further reflection upon this teaching we must not forget the context in which it was given. Jesus could not elaborate any further because of the threat to His life. We cannot develop a full theology of money from this simple statement, but we can hear a few things in Jesus’ teaching. At the core, the message is that Jesus’ trust was not in things of this world. The money was minted by Caesar and can only purchase that which is of this world. But, much as when Jesus tells His disciples that He has food that they no nothing about, Jesus has resources that are from God, that are inexhaustible. The only proper use of these abundant gifts is to use them for the purpose for which God has given them.

    When the scribe comes to Jesus we hear one of the most important teachings of Jesus. He is asked what is the greatest commandment. Jesus responds with a two-fold commandment to love God and to love neighbor. The scribe is pleased with Jesus answers and continues Himself, saying, “to love [God] … is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Jesus then tells the scribe that his response is wise and reveals that he is close to the kingdom of God. The scribe’s response is perfectly in line with the teaching of the Old Testament. We have seen as we have read the prophets how important it is to seek the Lord, to trust Him, and out of this place then to worship. But rote worship and simple ritual, the abusive treatment of the worship of God like a lucky charm, will only be met by God’s wrath upon these false worshippers.


    Chapter 13 is very important to understanding the nature of the closing of this age. I confess that there is much here that I do not yet understand. But before we turn to Revelation, or Thessalonians, or Daniel to learn of about the end times, let us remember where the apostles first learned about these things. They learn them from Jesus. And here we have some of the direct source material of Jesus’ teaching. It would be of great help to us as we study elsewhere in the inspired word of God to allow Jesus’ teaching here to guide us.

    But notice, that through the whole chapter there is only one imperative, one thing that Jesus gives the disciple to do as a consequence of his understanding of the end of the age and the return the Christ. The disciple is to “stay awake”. He says it twice. Our task in these days is to remain faithful to the task of our Master while diligently expecting His imminent return.


    Psalm 31 ::

    What is the psalmist’s hope and fear. His cry to God is that He would, “Make your face shine on your servant.” He has confessed his trust in the Lord. He has proclaimed that, “You are my God.” The psalmist is single minded and unwavering in his worship. The face of the Lord is his hope. But what is his fear? “I said in my alarm, ‘I am cut off from your sight.’” The psalmist knows that there is no hope if the Lord does not hear the prayers of the saints. But the Lord does hear. And so the conclusion is to “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!”

     
  • Jeremiah Fyffe 1:00 am on August 29, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,   

    Reflections for August 29, 2010 :: Jeremiah 51-52 & Psalm 30 

    August 29, 2010 :: :: Jeremiah 51-52 & Psalm 30

    Audio MP3

    These last two chapters bring to a climax and conclusion the whole of the book of Jeremiah. We hear in chapter 51 that Babylon will be judged by God for its destruction of Israel and the temple of the Lord. We can learn something very important about God’s sovereignty and human responsibility in this chapter. Babylon was God’s agent of judgement upon the nations of the earth, including Judah. The Israelites had become idolatrous and wicked and so God sent the powerful nation of Babylon to punish His people according to the curse of the covenant that He promised would come if the people did not put their trust in the Lord.

    And yet, though Babylon was an instrument of God, it is still responsible for the destruction it wrought. It was an arrogant nation with a pride in its own strength. It did not understand its place as an instrument in the hand of God. Though used for the purposes of God, Babylon remained responsible for its own wickedness.


    The final chapter narrates the account upon which our next book, Lamentations, reflects. Between the Fall and the rejection of the Christ, this moment stands as the lowest point in human history. The people that were to display the glory of God are destroyed and the temple, which God filled with His glorious presence, is burned to the ground. Verse 27 places these events in words of such simplicity, “So Judah was taken into exile out of its land.”

    Let us recall the covenant that God made with Israel again. He promised to bless them if they would trust the Lord and love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. He promised to curse them if they turned away to idols and the gods of the nations, and finally He promised to preserve a remnant from out of the curse through whom He would fulfill His purpose of creating a people for Himself forever. Here, at the end of Jeremiah, all seems lost. But the Lord is faithful. Let us continue to look to His Word where we will see His preserving work. After all, it is His kindness that leads to repentance.


    Psalm 30 ::

    This has become one of my favorite psalms in all of scripture. I lead an Adventure Leadership Camp every year that is framed around this psalm. This psalm has three phases ::

    • Orientation :: All seems right to David. The world seems properly ordered with blessing and the protection of the Lord.
    • Disorientation :: Without anything more than a semi-colon verse 7 turns into a season of trial and suffering. David feels His mortality and cries out to the Lord.
    • Revealed Orientation :: David, having put his trust in the Lord, see God’s redemption. He sees again the joy of the Lord and it overflows into glory and praise.

    As seen in the covenant as well in our own lives, these seem to be the seasons of God’s work in our lives. But notice that God work is not to bring us back to the good old days. Rather, through His redemption we now know something of the glory of God that was previously unknown. It is after passing through the disorientation that the dancing comes.

     
c
compose new post
j
next post/next comment
k
previous post/previous comment
r
reply
e
edit
o
show/hide comments
t
go to top
l
go to login
h
show/hide help
esc
cancel