Ethics

About a decade ago, I worked for a chemical company in New Jersey.  I worked in the technical service department which comprised two of the approximately 60 labs.  Nice place to work, good benefits, good wages, etc..  However, there was one "not-so-nice" thing about it; if you put your bagged lunch in the cafeteria refrigerator, it might NOT be there come lunch time.  So, I ate out most of the time because it was VERY ANNOYING to have my lunch stolen.  Now, I understand that cultures vary, but I never did quite get it that it was "OK" to steal someone else's meal.  This reminded me of a passage from Paul's letter to the Thessalonians...

WEB: II Thessalonians Chapter 3

[7] For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you, [8] neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you; [9] not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us. [10] For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.”

OK, there are times when anyone can be strapped for funds; so I can understand the need for food stamps and welfare (personally, I think it should be limited to a two year period) but that does not make stealing acceptable.  A something-for-nothing attitude will eventually bankrupt this country.  I learned early in life that if I wanted something I was expected to work for it.  Whether it was money for a date, a new shirt or even a dress pair of shoes, I knew it would be a waste of time to ask because the answer was always a NO!  I think the inventor of the security lunch bags is a true genius, but I just wish I had known about them in New Jersey!!!

Mar. 25 Leviticus 5, 6

Mar. 25

Leviticus 5, 6

Lev 5:1 " 'If anyone sins, in that he hears the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he has seen or known, if he doesn't report it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

Lev 5:2 " 'Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it is hidden from him, and he is unclean, then he shall be guilty.

Lev 5:3 " 'Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever his uncleanness is with which he is unclean, and it is hidden from him; when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty.

Lev 5:4 " 'Or if anyone swears rashly with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatever it is that a man might utter rashly with an oath, and it is hidden from him; when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty of one of these.

Lev 5:5 It shall be, when he is guilty of one of these, he shall confess that in which he has sinned:

Lev 5:6 and he shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh for his sin which he has sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin.

Lev 5:7 " 'If he can't afford a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to Yahweh; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.

Lev 5:8 He shall bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one which is for the sin offering, and wring off its head from its neck, but shall not sever it completely.

Lev 5:9 He shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.

Lev 5:10 He shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin which he has sinned, and he shall be forgiven.

Lev 5:11 " 'But if he can't afford two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he shall bring his offering for that in which he has sinned, the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it, neither shall he put any frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.

Lev 5:12 He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as the memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, on the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. It is a sin offering.

Lev 5:13 The priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned in any of these things, and he will be forgiven; and the rest shall be the priest's, as the meal offering.' "

Lev 5:14 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 5:15 "If anyone commits a trespass, and sins unwittingly, in the holy things of Yahweh; then he shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh, a ram without blemish from the flock, according to your estimation in silver by shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering.

Lev 5:16 He shall make restitution for that which he has done wrong in the holy thing, and shall add a fifth part to it, and give it to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and he will be forgiven.

Lev 5:17 "If anyone sins, and does any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done; though he didn't know it, yet he is guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

Lev 5:18 He shall bring a ram without blemish from of the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing in which he sinned and didn't know it, and he will be forgiven.

Lev 5:19 It is a trespass offering. He is certainly guilty before Yahweh."

Lev 6:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 6:2 "If anyone sins, and commits a trespass against Yahweh, and deals falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or has oppressed his neighbor,

Lev 6:3 or has found that which was lost, and dealt falsely therein, and swearing to a lie; in any of all these things that a man does, sinning therein;

Lev 6:4 then it shall be, if he has sinned, and is guilty, he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he has gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found,

Lev 6:5 or any thing about which he has sworn falsely; he shall restore it even in full, and shall add a fifth part more to it. To him to whom it belongs he shall give it, in the day of his being found guilty.

Lev 6:6 He shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh, a ram without blemish from the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest.

Lev 6:7 The priest shall make atonement for him before Yahweh, and he will be forgiven concerning whatever he does to become guilty."

Lev 6:8 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 6:9 "Command Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the burnt offering: the burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.

Lev 6:10 The priest shall put on his linen garment, and he shall put on his linen breeches upon his body; and he shall remove the ashes from where the fire has consumed the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.

Lev 6:11 He shall take off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.

Lev 6:12 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.

Lev 6:13 Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.

Lev 6:14 " 'This is the law of the meal offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before Yahweh, before the altar.

Lev 6:15 He shall take from there his handful of the fine flour of the meal offering, and of its oil, and all the frankincense which is on the meal offering, and shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma, as its memorial, to Yahweh.

Lev 6:16 That which is left of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten without yeast in a holy place. They shall eat it in the court of the Tent of Meeting

Lev 6:17 It shall not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.

Lev 6:18 Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as their portion forever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. Whoever touches them shall be holy.' "

Lev 6:19 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 6:20 "This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer to Yahweh in the day when he is anointed: the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening.

Lev 6:21 It shall be made with oil in a griddle. When it is soaked, you shall bring it in. You shall offer the meal offering in baked pieces for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.

Lev 6:22 The anointed priest that will be in his place from among his sons shall offer it. By a statute forever, it shall be wholly burnt to Yahweh.

Lev 6:23 Every meal offering of a priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be eaten."

Lev 6:24 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 6:25 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the sin offering: in the place where the burnt offering is killed, the sin offering shall be killed before Yahweh. It is most holy.

Lev 6:26 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the Tent of Meeting.

Lev 6:27 Whatever shall touch its flesh shall be holy. When there is any of its blood sprinkled on a garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in a holy place.

Lev 6:28 But the earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken; and if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, it shall be scoured, and rinsed in water.

Lev 6:29 Every male among the priests shall eat of it: it is most holy.

Lev 6:30 No sin offering, of which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be eaten: it shall be burned with fire.

Mar. 25, 26 Mark 15

Mar. 25, 26

Mark 15

Mar 15:1 Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.

Mar 15:2 Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered, "So you say."

Mar 15:3 The chief priests accused him of many things.

Mar 15:4 Pilate again asked him, "Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!"

Mar 15:5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled.

Mar 15:6 Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.

Mar 15:7 There was one called Barabbas, bound with those who had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.

Mar 15:8 The multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he always did for them.

Mar 15:9 Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

Mar 15:10 For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up.

Mar 15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead.

Mar 15:12 Pilate again asked them, "What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?"

Mar 15:13 They cried out again, "Crucify him!"

Mar 15:14 Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they cried out exceedingly, "Crucify him!"

Mar 15:15 Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.

Mar 15:16 The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort.

Mar 15:17 They clothed him with purple, and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him.

Mar 15:18 They began to salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

Mar 15:19 They struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him.

Mar 15:20 When they had mocked him, they took the purple off of him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him.

Mar 15:21 They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.

Mar 15:22 They brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, "The place of a skull."

Mar 15:23 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn't take it.

Mar 15:24 Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take.

Mar 15:25 It was the third hour, and they crucified him.

Mar 15:26 The superscription of his accusation was written over him, "THE KING OF THE JEWS."

Mar 15:27 With him they crucified two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left.

Mar 15:28 The Scripture was fulfilled, which says, "He was numbered with transgressors."

Mar 15:29 Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days,

Mar 15:30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!"

Mar 15:31 Likewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves with the scribes said, "He saved others. He can't save himself.

Mar 15:32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him." Those who were crucified with him insulted him.

Mar 15:33 When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Mar 15:34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is, being interpreted, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Mar 15:35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, "Behold, he is calling Elijah."

Mar 15:36 One ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Let him be. Let's see whether Elijah comes to take him down."

Mar 15:37 Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit.

Mar 15:38 The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.

Mar 15:39 When the centurion, who stood by opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

Mar 15:40 There were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

Mar 15:41 who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and served him; and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

Mar 15:42 When evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for the Kingdom of God, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus' body.

Mar 15:44 Pilate marveled if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead long.

Mar 15:45 When he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

Mar 15:46 He bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

Mar 15:47 Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid.

"THE BOOK OF ISAIAH" The Man, The Times, And The Book by Mark Copeland

"THE BOOK OF ISAIAH"

                    The Man, The Times, And The Book

Isaiah is often referred to as "The Messianic Prophet", because of his
many prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus.  The New Testament quotes
and applies more scriptures from the book of Isaiah than any other Old
Testament prophet.

Yet Isaiah's work was not solely foretelling the future.  A prophet of
God was not primarily a future teller, but one who spoke God's word to
the people of his own day.  The word "prophet" literally means "to boil
up like a fountain."  Therefore a prophet was a spokesman for God; not
so much a "foreteller" as a "forth teller"!

Isaiah was God's spokesman to Judah and Jerusalem at time when the
nation was immersed in sin.  He spoke God's indictment against their
sins, urging them to repent.  He then foretold destruction upon them if
they did not return to God.

In the midst of these dire warnings, Isaiah also foretold of a bright
future with the coming Messiah.  God would not forget His covenant made
to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David.  He would spare a remnant of the
nation of Israel out of which would come the Messiah and His new
kingdom.

ISAIAH, THE MAN

His name (Isaiah) means "salvation of the Lord" or "the Lord is
salvation", and is certainly symbolic of his message.  He is described
as "the son of Amoz" (Isa 1:1; 2:1; 13:1), of whom the Bible reveals
nothing.  He was married and had two sons, Shear-Jashub ("the remnant
shall return", Isa 7:3) and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz ("in-speed-spoil-booty-
hastens", Isa 8:3), whose names also symbolized his message.

Tradition says that Amoz was a brother of Amaziah, the son of Joash,
king of Judah (2Ki 14:1).  This would make Isaiah a close relative to
those who were kings during his lifetime, and would explain his close
association with kings and priests and involvement with world affairs.

Isaiah received his visions in the days of "Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezekiah, kings of Judah" (Isa 1:1).  It is generally thought the vision
of the throne scene which occurred "in the year Uzziah died" (Isa 6:1)
was the beginning point of his ministry as a prophet (ca. 739 B.C.).
According to Jewish tradition, Isaiah was executed by Manasseh only a
few years after he ascended the throne.  One source describes Isaiah as
having been sawn asunder with a wooden saw (cf. He 11:37).  This would
mean Isaiah prophesied during a period of approximately fifty years (ca.
739-690 B.C.).

ISAIAH, THE TIMES

It was a time of great political turmoil for the nation of Judah.
Assyria was expanding its empire, attacking Israel and Syria to the
north.  When Judah refused to joined a coalition with Israel and Syria
to resist Assyria, Judah was attacked by Israel and Syria in
retaliation.  As Judah seriously considered inviting Assyria to help,
Isaiah sought to encourage the king and the people to trust only in
Jehovah.  King Ahaz of Judah rejected Isaiah's advice and asked Assyria
to come to his aid.  Assyria accepted, and the capital of Israel
(Samaria) fell in 722 B.C. (Hendriksen)

It soon became apparent that Judah was next on Assyria's hit list.
Judah began looking to Egypt in the south for help.  Once again, Isaiah
counseled the nation to make no alliances but trust only in the Lord.
King Hezekiah heeded Isaiah and God rewarded his faith by destroying the
Assyrian host (Isa 36-37).  But in a moment of weakness Hezekiah showed
the ambassadors from Babylon (Assyria's enemy) the house of his
treasures (Isa 39:1-2).  This prompted Isaiah to foretell that the
king's treasures and his descendants would be taken away to Babylon (Isa
39:5-7).  With this prophecy as an introduction, in chapters 40-66
Isaiah speaks from the viewpoint of Babylonian exile and foretells of
coming pardon, deliverance, and restoration. (ibid.)

During this time God sent several prophets to Israel and Judah.  Hosea
(750-725 B.C.) prophesied mainly to Israel, the northern ten tribes.
Micah (735-700 B.C.) together with Isaiah spoke primarily to Judah in
the south.

ISAIAH, THE BOOK

Two major themes run throughout the book.  There is the exhortation to
"Trust in the Holy One of Israel".  Faith in the Lord would assure
forgiveness for their transgressions and deliverance from their enemies.
Eight times the people are urged to "wait upon the Lord" (cf. Isa
40:28-31).  "The Messiah to come and the glory of His age" is another
dominate message.  Isaiah spoke frequently of the events to come,
foretelling the fall of heathen nations and the establishment of the
kingdom of the Messiah who would rule in justice and righteousness (cf.
Isa 2:1-5).

Isaiah's favorite designation for Jehovah (Yahweh) is "The Lord of
Hosts", used 62 times in the book.

"The name designates the Lord as omnipotent, and...is used by all the
writing prophets except Ezekiel, Joel, Obadiah, and Jonah.  The term
'hosts' designated the armies of Israel.  It could also refer to the
angels, the heavenly messengers of the Lord, and to the stars as God's
hosts.  When, as here, it appears without further qualification, it
designates the Lord as the God of all hosts, and is thus an equivalent
expression for the 'all-powerful God'." - Edward J. Young

Another designation for the Lord used by Isaiah is "The Holy One Of
Israel".  In his book it is used 25 times, while found only six times in
all the rest of the Bible.

The book of Isaiah can be divided into two major parts:

The Assyrian Period (chapters 1-39) - The prophet proclaims the Lord's
indictment against Judah and Jerusalem, and the coming judgment against
them.  He portrays the sovereign rule of the Lord of Hosts who judges
not only Israel, but heathen nations as well.  He prophesies that the
Lord will use Assyria, Babylon, and the Medes to execute His purposes,
and afterward judge each of these along other nations, bringing them to
desolation because of their sins. (Harkrider)

The Babylonian Period (chapters 40-66) - Isaiah exhorts an afflicted
people to have faith and patience.  He describes the salvation and
future blessings to come upon the true Israel of God.  Though Isaiah did
not live during the period of Babylonian captivity, through inspiration
he was able to speak words of comfort to those who would experience that
difficult time of Israel's history. (ibid.)

GENERAL OUTLINE

I. THE ASSYRIAN PERIOD - CONFLICT AND VICTORY (1-39)

   A. PROPHECIES CONCERNING JUDAH AND JERUSALEM (1-12)

   B. PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE NATIONS (13-27)

   C. THE SOURCE OF TRUE DELIVERANCE (28-35)

   D. HISTORICAL INTERLUDE (36-39)

II. THE BABYLONIAN PERIOD - HOPE FOR TROUBLED TIMES (40-66)

   A. THE ONE TRUE GOD VERSUS IDOLS (40-48)

   B. SALVATION THROUGH THE SUFFERING SERVANT (49-53)

   C. THE FUTURE GLORY FOR GOD'S PEOPLE (54-66)

REASONS TO STUDY THE BOOK

There are many reasons why Christians should read and study the book of
Isaiah.  Among them:

It increases faith in Jesus as the Messiah, as one reads the messianic
prophecies that were fulfilled in Him.

It strengthens hope in God as the One who is ultimately in control of
all things, and will bring His purposes to pass.

It inspires love for God and His Messiah, as one reads of the blessings
to be found in obedience to God's Word.

It enlarges understanding as to how God ruled in the nations of men in
the past, and how Christ may exercise His rule in the nations today.

Give yourself the opportunity to be blessed by this wonderful book of
the Bible!

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION

1) What is Isaiah frequently called?  What does his name mean?
   - The Messianic prophet; "Salvation is of the Lord" or "The Lord is
     salvation"

2) Who did he primarily preach to?  During what kings of Judah did he
   prophesy?
   - Judah and Jerusalem; Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah

3) Approximately when did he serve as a prophet of God?  How many years?
   - During the years of 739-690 B.C.; 50 years

4) What other prophets were contemporary with Isaiah?  To Whom did they
   prophesy?
   - Hosea (750-725 B.C.) - Israel
   - Micah (735-700 B.C.) - Judah

5) What nation was threatening Israel and Judah from the north?  What
   coalition attacked Judah for not aligning with them against the
   northern invader?
   - Assyria; Israel and Syria

6) To whom did Judah turn for help in the days of King Ahaz?
   - Assyria

7) When did Samaria fall and Israel taken into captivity?
   - 722 B.C.

8) When Assyria threatened Judah, what country was Judah tempted to look
   to for help?
   - Egypt in the south

9) Who did Isaiah convince to place his trust in the Lord instead of
   political alliances?
   - King Hezekiah

10) How did God reward this king for his faith?
   - Destroyed the Assyrian host in one night

11) What mistake did the king make that prompted the prophesy of
    Judah's captivity?
   - He showed the treasuries of his house to the ambassadors from
     Babylon

12) What are the two major sections of the book?
   - The Assyrian Period, Conflict And Victory (1-39)
   - The Babylonian Period, Hope For Troubled Times (40-66)

13)  What are two major themes running through the book?
   - "Trust in the Holy One of Israel"
   - "The Messiah to come and the glory of His age"